Songs of Hope
Songs of Hope
A joyous Cd celebrating the world's cultures with music by the world's children -- featuring children from Madagascar, Turkey, Guatemala, Italy, Czech Republic, Mexico, USA, and Costa Rica.
The "Y2H"⢠performers are children aged 10-12.
On the CD, they sing music from their countries, to be enjoyed by both children and adults.
The Y2H⢠kids are from countries around the world - Madagascar, Italy, Guatemala, Turkey, Costa Rica, and the USA. They are joined on some songs by the Songs of Hope⢠Junior Team - past participants from USA, Turkey, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, and Mexico.
The CD packet includes a fascinating booklet with photos and bios of the Songs of Hope⢠kids - ordinary kids who were part of an extraordinary project.
Founded in 1991, Songs of Hope⢠joins children aged 10-12 from countries around the world. The children live together while developing a concert of songs, dances, percussion, and folk dress from all their countries and cultures.
The Songs of Hope⢠kids are not musical stars.
Most of them haven't had a lot of music training.
They are ordinary kids who work really hard to
discover and share their special talents. Music
is a universal language. Everybody sings, so
anyone willing to believe is capable of being in
Songs of Hopeâ¢. Every child has the talent of song.
In 2000, the Songs of Hope⢠children worked hard, applied their talents, helped each other, and developed a special concert program full of energy, respect, and joy. The "Y2H"⢠CD contains some of the best songs from their 2000 concert tour.
In the project, the young performers were supported by a superb group of artists and program staff, which included:
JEANNE HINZ JUNGE (producer) is no stranger to children's recordings. With numerous titles to her credit, she is best known as the creator and producer of the Women of Courage⢠series of children's recordings - winner of three American Library Association Notable Children's Recordings and a Parent's Choice Gold Seal, among other awards. Jeanne has been artistic director of Songs of Hope⢠since she co-founded the project in 1991.
MICK LABRIOLA (percussion) has spent a lifetime studying the folk music
traditions of countries around the world. Mick has made a special study of music from Jamaica, living and learning with descendants of the Maroons, slave rebels that hid in the mountains and founded their own communities after the colonials left. He has worked with Songs of Hope⢠since 1991.
Å ÁRKA CELBOVÁ (Y2H vocal director) first came to Songs of Hope⢠in 1997 - as adult companion to two kids from Czech Republic. She loved the project enough to return as vocal director in 1998, and she's still with us! Å árka (pronounced Shar´-Kah) studied and performed with Prague's world-renowned "Bambini di Praga" Choir from age 7, advancing to teaching in the Bambini's school and conducting one of its A-level choirs.
BRENDAN COLEMAN (keyboards/piano) has toured internationally with Reggae Queen Judy Mowatt of Bob Marley and the Wailers. He has also toured with Leroy Sibbles of the Heptones, original reggae-rapper Sister Carol,
recording artist Owen Grey, and others. He has been with Songs of Hope⢠since 1996.
VEDRAN ANTONIJEVIÇ (M. Le Cook) came to Songs of Hope⢠in 1996 as the adult companion for two Muslim-Bosnian kids living as war refugees in Croatia. At the time, he was working as youth activities director in the refugee camp on an island near Split, Croatia. He learned how to cook U.S. food the hard way, by experimenting in the kitchen when he returned as cook in 1998. You can ask the Songs of Hope staff why he's called the Rice Man!
TOM SURPRENANT (Songs of Hope⢠program director) started working with kids while on the program staff of the New Hampshire Outward Bound School. Tom handled lots of the fundraising (Sounds of Hope is a nonprofit) and business stuff to make Y2H possible. Along with Jeanne, he co-founded Songs of Hope⢠in 1991.
SERGE AKOU (bass) joined us for the first time with the "Y2H"⢠project. We loved his playing and his attitude about internationalism!
World: Turkish contemporary