Refugees Anthem by composer Arian Hu is the international anthem of refugees around the globe. Arian, a Syrian refugee now living in Beijing, wrote the anthem in an international style and without words so it would resonate beyond borders. Commissioned by Refugee Nation in 2016, it is the official anthem of refugee Olympic athletes. Says Arian, “Music is the best language to deliver my message to humanity, which is to love each other, and this language does not require a translation.” With Arian’s permission, it was sensitively arranged for string quartet by Crossing Borders Music violinist Rasa Mahmoudian. Rasa Mahmoudian and Jennifer Leckie, violins Seth Van Embden, viola Tom Clowes, cello Miyu Morita, sound engineer Max Williams, videographer Thank you to Second Unitarian Church of Chicago for the beautiful venue. This program is made possible in part by the Paul M Angell Family Foundation and City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Crossing Borders Music acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

The war in Ukraine is still going on. This composition very accurately conveys emotions, fears and our pain. Composer ​⁠@kseniastetsenko Violin ​⁠@shyksu Violin ​⁠@olha_violinist Video ​⁠@machete_toxic Sound ​⁠@djSoliery

Fugitive Footsteps for baritone soloist and a cappella mixed chorus by Laurence Sherr Poetry of Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Nelly Sachs in a composition honoring the survivors of the Holocaust Cory Schantz, baritone Kennesaw State University Chamber Singers, Samuel Miller, Director Poetry, program notes: http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~lsherr/FugitiveFootsteps.html Note: This performance in the Bailey Performance Center at Kennesaw State University was given during the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the choral performers are masked and spaced. The baritone soloist and conductor removed masks just before coming on stage.

"We Can Mend the Sky" by Jake Runestad. Find out more and purchase scores: http://jakerunestad.com/store/we-can-mend-the-sky World premiere performance by the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Dr. James Bass, conductor. Corinne Bach, soprano. Poetry by Warda Mohamed (14-years-old). FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/jakerunestadmusic INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/jakerunestad About the work: My sister is an English teacher at the Minnesota International Middle School in Minneapolis which provides a safe and inclusive environment for East African immigrant students to learn (many of whom are Somali). Most of these students came to the USA to escape the violent civil war that has plagued Somalia since 1991. Seeking a better life for their children, these students' parents risked their lives to come to the USA - a valiant act of love. I wanted to tell their story through music and so I asked my sister to have her students write poems about their experiences leaving their home and coming to the USA. I received over 100 poems that contain passion, pride, emotion, and vivid stories of the sights and sounds that these young people have experienced. I sifted through these texts and found the powerful words of 14-year-old Warda Mohamed that became the backbone of the composition. Using Warda's poem and two Somali proverbs, "We Can Mend the Sky" is a musical depiction of one's journey as an immigrant and an affirmation of hope as we all embrace the diversity around us.