El Sistema Greece presents Joyce DiDonato and Il pomo d’oro in a series of performances and masterclasses at two refugee camps in Greece, 10 & 11 June
On June 10 & 11, El Sistema Greece is hosting their patron, Joyce DiDonato, and resident ensemble, Il pomo d’oro, in masterclasses and performances at Skaramagkas and Elaionas refugee camps, as well as at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC).
Since its launch last November, El Sistema Greece has expanded to four sites and provides free music education to several hundred children in the country’s refugee camps.
El Sistema Greece gives refugee children a specially tailored educational programme designed to develop memory, language and musical skills which aid integration into European societies and enhances their confidence.
Working with composers, musicians, dancers and soloists, El Sistema Greece works in numerous camps across Greece as well as with Greek children in Athens who learn and perform with refugee children.
Grammy award winning American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato will lead masterclasses, rehearsals and performances at both camps as well as at the SNFCC with Il pomo d’oro. These activities will be the culmination of their European tour of In War and Peace: Harmony through Music a project devised by DiDonato where she asks audiences “In the midst of chaos, how do you find peace?”
Anis Barnat, founder of El Sistema Greece commented:
“It is important that culture is accessible for all children, that it is part of their education. Music is a universal language that will be shared by our students, Joyce and Il pomo d’oro, and will lift everyone to the same level of excellence during both musical and human exchanges. The children of El Sistema Greece learn music on a daily basis, but who else than the most prominent musicians in the world can show them how to be artists?”
Joyce DiDonato commented:
“The privilege of sharing music with the children in these refugee camps and to learn from THEM will be, I am certain, a highlight of my life. Children have so much to offer in terms of imagination and curiosity and expression, that the chance to encourage them, share with them, and join in singing and dancing with their voices will be one of the great joys of my life. Every single child deserves the right to express themselves and to experience the joy of music ~ this is my greatest wish, that joy can be found together in these musical exchanges.”
Alongside DiDonato and Il pomo d’oro, El Sistema Greece will be welcoming Sofi Jeannin, music director of the Maitrise de Radio France and the Choeur de Radio France (and the incoming music director of the BBC Singers) and Victor Jacob, assistant conductor at the Maitrise de Radio France – both of whom will be rehearsing with the children for the open rehearsal at the SNFCC.
Fiercely championing music in a variety of social and educational issues, Joyce DiDonato has long been engaged in causes including the vital need for music education to be accessible to all and prison reform which includes frequent visits to the high-security correctional facility at Sing Sing in upstate New York.
For more information please contact:
Alexandra Strelcova
Communications Manager, El Sistema Greece
e: [email protected]
t: +44 7908 384 050 (UK) | + 420 776 59 75 76 (CZ)
Simon Millward
Albion Media
[email protected]
+44(0)7990507310
Links:
www.elsistemagreece.com
El Sistema Greece official video: https://youtu.be/Jqgo92iSNdY
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sistemagreece
Twitter: @elsistemagreece
Instagram: @elsistemagreece
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_tlasAjea184qkLOT3NEQ
Joyce DiDonato – In War and Peace: http://inwarandpeace.com/elsistemagreece/