Refugee Choir Project

Interconnection and Community Building: TRC events demonstrate the power of interconnection and community building across diverse populations. In 2024, our spring Good Things Happen concert united 300 people through performances featuring Congolese singer Providence Kamana, Venezuelan ensemble Tumbarrancho Gaitero, Egyptian tabla player George Sadak, and Mayor Woodards conducting alongside Choir members. The South Tacoma Sings concert brought together over 100 voices from three Tacoma public schools and TRC members on one stage, building intergenerational connections. We held nine Community Nights across different Tacoma neighborhoods, deliberately rotating locations to make programming accessible and foster connections among people who cant commit to regual rehearsals. These gatherings united participants through gospel, Brazilian, Flamenco, and Filipino music traditions, creating bridges between cultures. Audience members consistently reported feeling the warmth, joy, and sense of interconnection displayed by people from around the world working together.

Healing Through the Arts: TRC provides healing through the arts by creating opportunities for emotional support, creative expression, and meaningful connection. The emotional and practical support members shared at weekly rehearsals, combined with the act of singing each others songs together, has helped many find their voice and heal. Members have credited successes in their personal lives--including job promotions and business expansion--to the higher confidence they feel through TRC participation. Our School Residence Program and workshops for students brought healing and fulfillment to young people with one Mount Tahoma teacher sharing my students felt fulfilled and students saying the experience made choir cool again. A graduating senior expressed feeling like a real musician for the first time. These artistic experiences created safe spaces for processing emotions, building confidence, and experiencing the joy and hope that comes from creative community engagement.