Musicians Without Borders

“During my time in former Yugoslavia, this word “normal” kept coming back. “We just want a place where we can be normal.” Or, in judgment: “That guy isn’t normal.” Normal doesn’t actually describe the prevailing situation, but rather some moral judgment on what it should be. And it occurred to me that, with every step we took to bring people together in Mitrovica, we were expanding the city’s definition of normal.” On October 18, program manager Wendy Hassler-Forest was invited to present our project Music Connects in Brussels. The presentation was for the full staff of the European Commission's Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the agency that implements Creative Europe, which co-funds the project, as well as many other grant schemes. Wendy introduced the audience to Mitrovica – Europe’s most divided city – and the work that we do there, to bring ethnically separated youth together to do one simple thing: to make music. Highlighting the importance of these connections and the power of music to affect social change to the people shaping European cultural policy was a fantastic opportunity for our program and our organization. Read Wendy’s speech in full on our website now: https://lnkd.in/eJY4UnBV #MusicConnects #CreativeEurope Mitrovica Rock School Roma Rock School Clash! Exchange & Learning 1001 valises - Balkan Trafik Festival Creative Europe

“Music truly makes a person calm and helps to forget problems. Thank you for everything.” - Tuzla Safe House resident. Bosnia & Herzegovina is a crucial part of the Balkan Route, one of the most common routes used by people in forced migration, seeking safety from war, poverty, and climate change into Western Europe. Since 2018 the region has experienced an increased influx of refugees and asylum seekers who stay in the region for short periods of time. Musicians Without Borders works in this region to provide music workshops and activities for people on the move. We do this to provide relief and respite, to help individuals escape from the traumatic experiences they are both going through and fleeing from, and to help build a sense of community, safety, and connection in these often chaotic and tense locations. In a new blog written with contributions from members of our Welcome Notes BiH team working in Bosnia, we want to share with you how our Welcome Notes team works with refugees on the move. Read the full blog now: https://lnkd.in/e8avm2ri

This Sunday! Come down to the Haarlem Mennonite Church and see the amazing Orquesta Camara Amadeus demonstrate how music connects! The Orquesta consists of young people from a violent area of Mexico brought together by a love of music, and is the result of years of work from Stitching Sonaro. They will be performing this benefit concert as a part of their wider Netherlands tour and raising money to support young musicians in Palestine. The students involved in the Orquesta de Cámara Amadeus know how important music can be when living under difficult circumstances. Despite the distance between Mexico and Palestine, music can be used to bring these young musicians together. The concert will also feature performances by: Karin Strobos (mezzo-soprano) Felicia van den End (flute) Daan Treur (Piano) Pepe Garcia (percussion) Don't miss out! Grab your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/e6FExhmf

Reflecting on a Year of Conflict in Gaza: New Blog Post “In all my many years of public speaking for Musicians Without Borders, only twice have I been instructed by the inviting party what (and what not) to speak about—both times in the last few weeks.” October 2024 marks one year since the massive escalation of violence in Gaza and the wider region. The devastation and suffering continue for so many innocent people, including the children who attend our music programs in the West Bank. In this Director’s Blog, Laura Hassler reflects on how the world is responding to this harrowing situation - as well as how people are choosing not to respond. Laura’s blog is accompanied by ‘Forced Displacement’, a new piece of music by Fabienne van Eck, our Program Manager in Palestine and Jordan. Read the full blog on our website now: https://lnkd.in/e3_PfSSw

We are open to graphic design volunteers in the Netherlands! See the link below for details

Thank you so much for the invitation Conservatorium van Amsterdam, it was great to talk about the importance of the potential of musicians to become changemakers. These are increasingly important discussions and we are so thankful for a network that aims to platform the arts for social change in a world beset by urgent issues. #Changemakers

Want to see first-hand how music connects? Come along to the Music for Music benefit concert on November 3 at Haarlem Mennonite Church! The amazing Orquesta de Cámara Amadeus will be travelling from Mexico to play a benefit concert for young musicians in Palestine. The Orquestra consists of young people from a violent area of Mexico brought together by a love of music, and is the result of years of work from Stitching Sonaro. The students involved in the Orquesta de Cámara Amadeus know how important music can be when living under difficult circumstances. Despite the distance between Mexico and Palestine, music can still be used to bring people together. The concert will also feature performances by: Karin Strobos (mezzo-soprano) Felicia van den End (flute) Daan Treur (Piano) Pepe Garcia (percussion) Grab your tickets today! Mwb.to/musicformusic

Enlightened, music-loving business partners? Contact us!

Despite everything, still ongoing-- making music with children in Palestine

In August, students from our Music Connects programme attended the annual Skopje Summer School. Over 5 days, young people from different ethnicities in the Balkans came together to form bands, write and record songs, and play them in front of a live audience. This summer school is an incredible opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to meet others who they may not normally have the chance to interact with, and create friendships that bridge ethnic divides in the Balkans. We've pulled together a few highlights from the live show, and interviews with some of the students that attended this year, to showcase just how important this program is, and how much the young people who attend enjoy being a part of this unique experience.