Refugee Choir Project

CREATING SPACES FOR AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION, INTERCONNECTION, AND HEALING THROUGH SONG AND MUSIC

THE TACOMA REFUGEE CHOIR (TRC) FOSTERS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THROUGH WEEKLY CHOIR REHEARSALS, UNITING PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE CULTURES, BACKGROUNDS, AND AGES. THESE GATHERINGS PROVIDE CRITICAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND RESPITE FOR MEMBERS, FACILITATE CROSS-CULTURAL FRIENDSHIPS, ENHANCE PARTICIPANTS SENSE OF BELONGING AND HOPE, AND STRENGTHEN A COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023, TRC EXPANDED ITS IMPACT BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM, HARMONY AFTER HOURS, TO COMPLEMENT THE ESTABLISHED TUESDAY REHEARSALS. THESE REGULAR MEETINGS NOT ONLY INTRODUCE CULTURAL SINGING FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONS BUT ALSO EMPOWER MEMBERS TO ENGAGE MORE ACTIVELY IN CIVIC ACTIVITIES, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF POSITIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

TRC EVENTS SHOWCASE OUR MISSION OF HOPE AND INCLUSIVITY TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. IN 2023, WE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED OUR REACH BY PRODUCING THREE MAJOR CONCERTS FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING MONGOLIAN MUSICIANS ZJE MONGOL, UKRAINIAN FOLK ENSEMBLE HRAIMORE, CONGOLESE SINGER PROVIDENCE KAMANA, AND GOSPEL ARTIST ERICA WALKER. OUR IMPACT EXTENDED BEYOND LOCAL BOUNDARIES AS WE PERFORMED AT TEN HIGH-PROFILE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE GOVERNORS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, ACDA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MADARAKA FESTIVAL, AND THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY BUILDING CONFERENCE. THESE PERFORMANCES AMPLIFIED REFUGEE VOICES, PROMOTED CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND EXPANDED OUR REACH TO NEW AUDIENCES ACROSS LOCAL AND NATIONAL PLATFORMS.

TRC CREATES PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY MUSIC VIDEOS THAT SPREAD OUR MESSAGE OF HOPE, LOVE, AND BELONGING. IN 2023, WE RELEASED FOUR IMPACTFUL MUSIC VIDEOS, EACH WITH A UNIQUE FOCUS. SONG FOR UKRAINE, A STUDIO-RECORDED COLLABORATION WITH PIHCINTU MULTICULTURAL CHORUS, SUPPORTED WAR- AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. JAMBO BWANA, INTRODUCED BY OUR AFRICAN MEMBERS, SHOWCASED TRC EVENTS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. EVERYONE CAN LOVE SOMEONE WAS A LARGE-SCALE PROJECT INVOLVING OVER 150 PARTICIPANTS, HIGHLIGHTING MUTUAL SUPPORT AND THE JOY OF COMMUNITY. MOON SONG FEATURED GLOBAL GUEST SOLOISTS AND COMMUNITY DANCERS, DEMONSTRATING OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS. THESE PROJECTS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL CREATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR CHOIR MEMBERS, SUPPORTED LOCAL ARTISTS, AND EXPANDED OUR DIGITAL REACH TO OVER 100,000. THE VIDEOS SERVE AS POWERFUL TOOLS FOR ADVOCACY, CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND PROMOTING OUR MISSION OF INCLUSIVITY, ALLOWING TRCS MESSAGE TO RESONATE FAR BEYOND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.