Orchestra advocating for refugees launches in Oxford
Florence Lockheart
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Odyssey Ensemble will present its inaugural concert on 22 April with soloist Elodie Chousmer-Howelles and University of Oxford vocal ensemble The Oxford Gargoyles
A new orchestra using the power of music to foster empathy for asylum-seekers and migrants will launch on 22 April. Odyssey Ensemble, which will perform to the stakeholders and policymakers who can make a difference in the lives of refugees, will present its first concert later this month in Oxford.
The new ensemble is inspired by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which was founded in 1999 to promote understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. Odyssey Ensemble aims to share the stories of asylum-seekers and vulnerable migrants through music, poetry, and other art forms across the UK, performing in areas with high concert attendance rates and high levels of concern about refugee immigration.
Josh Asokan, who is the new orchestra's founder and conductor as well as working as a lawyer in immigration and asylum law said: ‘At a time when refugee immigration is often a polarising subject, music has the ability to transcend boundaries, foster empathy, and connect people from diverse backgrounds. In the current UK political climate, it is vital that real-life stories of asylum seekers and other vulnerable immigrants are heard… The need for voices engaging with the public and policymakers, urging that human dignity is upheld at every stage of the asylum process, is more pertinent now than ever.’
The orchestra will present its inaugural concert on 22 April at 7pm at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. Proceeds from the event (once costs are covered) will be channelled towards unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the city.
The concert programme, which is centred around the theme of birds, will feature the UK premiere of The Lost Birds, the Grammy-nominated new work by Christopher Tin, and the world premiere of Wounded Wings, which was commissioned specially from Afghan refugee poetand fashion designer Merzia Qahramany and composer Sarah Jenkins for the orchestra’s inaugural performance.
The concert’s bird theme will continue with a performance of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending with soloist and leader of the new orchestra, Elodie Chousmer-Howelles. Odyssey Ensemble will also be joined by University of Oxford vocal ensemble The Oxford Gargoyles.
