VOICES 21C

Haadia Galely and the Muslim Choral Ensemble of Sri Lanka (MCE) are hosting the 2023 Sama International Choral Festival: a one-week music residency bringing together singers and instrumentalists from across the globe to facilitate cultural exchange, celebrate the diversity of Islamic choral traditions, and articulate their artistic vision: “to communicate the creative power of our project by taking it beyond borders, breaking the barriers of silence to unite and to raise awareness as one global family, and to respect and honor the interconnectivity and sanctity of all life without discrimination.”

In July 2023, local and international artists will come together in Sri Lanka to curate a series of performances, events, and opportunities to engage international guest artists with local musicians in cultural sharing, training, and collaborative music-making.

Part of this festival is the formation of the World Muslim Choral Ensemble, bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims to engage in Islamic choral traditions from around the world, breathe new life and interest in the genre, and encourage budding choral singers and instrumentalists.

The Muslim Choral Ensemble of Sri Lanka will host VOICES 21C (a non-Muslim ensemble from Boston, United States of America) alongside other international artists, as a collaborative ensemble and peace ambassadors in this endeavor.

VOICES 21C is an artists’ collective devoted to exercising choral art in pursuit of human rights and justice and dedicated to a mission of global understanding through music. VOICES 21C has a particular mission in exchange with MCE to learn more about the Islamic faith and musical traditions and to bring this learning back to the U.S. In so doing, VOICES 21C can help combat islamophobia through stories, narrative, repertoire, curriculum development, and culture sharing. With this endeavor, VOICES 21C extends its work as one of the only choirs to engage deeply with singers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Iran, through long-sustained relationships and interpersonal investment in global cultural equity through music.

The inaugural "World Muslim Choral Ensemble Festival" took place in July 2022 to great acclaim, which you can learn more about through the links below:

"Harmony truly meets humanity" - Sunday Times

"An enthralling experience" - Ceylon Today

"Voices for peace rise in the midst of turmoil" - Sunday Times

"Taking Steps Towards Peace with Islamic Devotional Music" - Brunch