People from Wrexham and as far afield as Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran are set to perform at a special concert ‘We Rise Together,’ held at St Giles Church on April 1st 2023.
The concert, supported by a #Wrecsam2029 City of Culture commission, will see individuals who call Wrexham and Wales their home, performing with individuals who have found, or are seeking sanctuary here.
An asylum seeker is someone who has arrived in a country and asked for asylum. Asylum is when a government accepts that your home country is unable or unwilling to ensure your protection and allows you to remain in their country in order to stay safe-this can be due to circumstances such as war, persecution or natural disasters. Once someone is determined as needing protection, they become known as a refugee.
The concert will see musical performances from NEW Sinfonia, as well as the NEW Voices choir that includes voices from all over the world.
Project Lead Robert Guy said: “This is genuinely one of the best projects I have ever worked on. “We have people from all over the world involved, united in music and song. “It’s not uncommon to hear several languages at once being spoken during rehearsal, and it’s great to see people from different backgrounds connecting over a coffee afterwards.”
A collection for UareUK (United to Assist Refugees UK) will be held at the event. UARE UK provide practical and emotional support to help asylum seekers and refugees to feel welcome, supported and safe. Jane Townend from UareUK said: “supporting refugees isn’t just about aid and practical aspects, it’s also about coming together to find human connection that lifts the soul and heart when faced with dark times. “Those involved are saying it’s helping them to have something to focus on and how important music is to lift spirits and to feel hope.”
Lead member for City of Culture at Wrexham Council, Cllr Hugh Jones said: “The City of Culture 2025 bid certainly united the city. “It’s great to see that fantastic work continuing in uniting communities, and I’m excited to see what focus our 2029 City of Culture bid brings in developing and enhancing our cultural offering in Wrexham, and beyond.”
The ‘We Rise Together’ concert will be staged at St Giles Church, Wrexham on April 1st at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced from £1 to £15 and are available by visiting the NEW Sinfonia Website: https://www.newsinfonia.org.uk/event-details/we-rise-together
While the concert itself has received funding, a Just Giving page has been set up to raise money for the wider NEW Voices programme and anybody wishing to make a donation can do so via www.gofundme.com/f/fund-our-project-with-new-voices-and-uareuk
A donation to help our Ukrainians friends participate in the concert and future ones has been gratefully received thanks to Ian Lawson and all at Pure Utility Solutions in Chester.
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