Boston-area youths head to Middle East carrying message of peace through harmony with Boston Children’s Chorus

Singers traveling to Jordan as goodwill ambassadors, will document trip via social media

 

BOSTON (June 4, 2009) – A chance meeting has become the opportunity of a lifetime for a young group of Boston singers. Fifty-five youths, ranging in age from 11 to 18, and from vastly different racial, religious, ethnic and economic backgrounds will travel to Jordan this summer with the Boston Children’s Chorus at the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for these kids to foster cross-cultural understanding in a country that continually represents peace in one of our world’s most conflict-ridden regions,” said Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King. “It gives our young singers a new stage on which to celebrate diversity and unity, and to share the universal message of peace through the universal language of music.”

The tour was borne of the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who was inspired by a performance by the chorus during a visit to Boston in 2007. The singers come from more than 35 communities throughout greater Boston, and will be accompanied by 10 chaperones during the trip from June 30-July 11. They will give 5-6 performances at venues in Amman and the many rural towns in the kingdom; participate in cultural and musical workshops across the country; and may also perform for the king.

It also provides the youths with an unforgettable chance to learn about a foreign culture and its history by forming friendships across global boundaries.

The singers have been participating in a pre-tour educational program to learn the customs and history of the country. They will be posting live blogs and pictures during the trip, updating Facebook and the BCC website, www.bostonchildrenschorus.org, as well as keeping journals and filming various activities.

BCC unites children, families and community leaders from Boston’s diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic and geographic backgrounds to sing and celebrate, develop relationships, break down social barriers and contribute to the healing of Boston’s history of racial divides and social isolation.

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Media Contacts
Michelle McKenzie
617-429-2709
mmckenzie916@hotmail.com