As the world grapples with the most severe global refugee crisis since World War II, musicians convened by The Refugee Orchestra Project and Gourmet Symphony are coming together to provide a voice to refugees in the United States.
THE CONCERT
The performance, conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya and John Devlin, will take place in The Fillmore Silver Spring and will feature a full symphony orchestra and soloists – including award-winning soprano Zhanna Alkhazova – performing works by refugee composers such as Iranian composer Gity Razaz, Bela Bartok, and Irving Berlin, as well as music that involves refugee themes written by Verdi and Puccini, among others. The concert will showcase, through music, the positive impact those who have come to this country seeking safety and a better life have had on American culture and society.
ADMISSION:
Admission to the concert is free, donations are suggested. Guests who make a donation of at least $50 will receive premium seating and a gourmet gift box including snack bites from Gourmet Symphony’s culinary partners at Beuchert’s Saloon and Mike Isabella Concepts, among others—this will be capped at 100.
If you would like to receive a gourmet gift box & premium seating but have not yet made your donation of $50 or more, we encourage you to visit our donation site before Monday to ensure availability and a smooth check-in.
Proceeds from donations will go toward the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees in support of those seeking asylum in the United States and abroad.
ABOUT ROP:
The Refugee Orchestra Project is in its second season. The project was conceived by conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya, herself a refugee who found asylum in the United States. In the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis Yankovskaya realized many of her own closest colleagues and friends were unaware of her own history as a refugee. In addition to raising funds for organizations supporting refugees worldwide, the Refugee Orchestra Project gives voice to refugees in the United States. The concert seeks to build support, human connections, and understanding within the larger community. More information at refugeeorchestraproject.org, and on Twitter at @RefugeeOrchProj and Facebook.
ABOUT GOURMET SYMPHONY:
Gourmet Symphony was founded in 2014 with the mission to reimagine the classical music experience by presenting culinary-inspired concerts that unite Washington, D.C.’s cultural and artisanal communities. By curating innovative programs that explore the connections between classical music and locally sourced cuisine, Gourmet Symphony breaks the conceived boundaries of traditional concert formats and inspires interest in both the classical and culinary arts. Gourmet Symphony debuted at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in February 2015 with the support of a successful Kickstarter campaign and has since presented events across the nation’s capital, garnering critical acclaim for its pioneering approach to classical music programming. More information at gourmetsymphony.org.
