The Lullaby Project: A valuable musical journey!
Implementing the Lullaby Project in Greece since 2018 we have learned a valuable lesson: When artistic creation contributes to the achievement of an important social goal, it turns into a truly moving experience. We see it in the eyes but also in the words of the composers who had the opportunity to participate in the project, who built relationships of real trust with the parents they collaborated with and created unique pieces of music dedicated to their children.
Some of them share with us thoughts and feelings from their experience:
“Meeting parents from different countries, sharing their stories by creating a song for their child is a moving experience. The way they entrusted me with their memories and hopes allowed us to compose their own lullaby, a piece of music they got to bring home and which they can sing with their family forever!’’
Eleni Arapoglou
“Personally, I think that working with Adoración has helped me feel part of her world and the world of the gipsy community in my neighborhood -which, as you probably know, is a very closed environment from both perspectives. I’m very thankful to the Lullaby Project for giving us the opportunity to get closer as human beings no matter where we come from’’.
Albert Sanz
“The most important thing for me in my participation in the Lullaby Project was the opportunity I had as a composer to put aside my ego and my personal artistic needs and to create a piece that would serve a specific purpose, expressing absolute love’’.
Blend Mishkin
“Creating a song and trying to find the words and the sounds that represent a sensitive and inaccessible side of a person whom I had just met, was for me beyond an artistic challenge and a personal blessing’’.
Konstantina Christou
“The Lullaby Project gave me a chance to step out of my comfort zone as a composer and as a human being, to connect to another culture, and to be in the service of a beautiful idea. I am very glad to have taken part in this’’.
Sun Taylor
“My participation in the Lullaby Project was a cultural exchange’’.
Lise Borel
“The Lullaby Project has impacted and inspired so many musicians who have been a part of the program. Many musicians connect deeply with the families, communities, and other musicians they collaborate with, through the sharing of stories and the mutual learning of culture, music, and life experience. The songwriting builds upon a foundation of trust and meaningful connections and that shines bright in the lullabies that are created. Musicians also note how the project is musically enriching, expanding their skill sets and musical boundaries. Artists typically work quickly and sensitively in response to the families’ wishes, which is a humbling experience that not only enables artists to bring their incredible skills to the process, but also encourages them to push the boundaries of their musical comfort, to work in new languages or new musical genres’’.
Tiffany Ortiz
This year, El Sistema Greece is offering to one young Greek composer the opportunity to experience this unique creative journey and present his/her composition at the Lullaby Project 2021 final concert.
Composers interested in participating are kindly requested to send their application toinfo@elsistema.gr by Friday, January 15.
Find out more here.
