The talented young Haitian children, the stars of the music project created by ABF and the Fondation St Luc Haiti, alongside Maestro Bocelli on the famous Madison Square Garden stage.
The Christmas spent by the “Voices of Haiti in New York was a special one. A year after their last trip outside their country, a year in which they have continued to work hard and with discipline every Saturday, sharing their new goals and little exciting results, the young choristers have grabbed their backpacks and flown to New York.
This new experience is in addition to their joyful participation in the new CD, “Sì”, from ABF founder, Maestro Bocelli, which was released on October 26 and which includes the “Voices of Haiti” as guests on two songs. This was a participation that came from the desire of Maestro Bocelli and ABF to give a voice and opportunities to these young singers as a full expression of the Mission of the Foundation: Empowering people and communities.
The young Haitians’ schedule in New York saw them busy for a week with rehearsals and performances, including Maestro Bocelli’s two concerts in Madison Square Garden in front of a warm audience that welcomed and supported the show with thunderous applause and palpable emotion.
The trip was also a chance for the young choristers to take part in a few meetings with friends and supporters of ABF, to whom they will bring their experiences and vitality. Furthermore, a series of interdisciplinary initiatives were organized with the aim of offering them a broad educational experience – on every trip – which includes gaining a deep understanding of the culture, customs and traditions of the country that is hosting the performances.
The presence of the Caribbean children’s choir alongside Master Bocelli once again aims to draw international attention to Haiti and celebrate the strength of its colors and its people as part of a message of universal value, that of music.
And the presence of the “Voices of Haiti” choir alongside Master Bocelli it has been possible thanks to many friends and donors as Sabrina and Mike Ferry and their network, Gelb production, Intimissimi, Falconeri, Moncler, Sarabanda, Everlast, Gianna Meliani, Renzo and Arianna Rosso, Only the Brave Foundation, Abraham Kadar, Ribalta Restaurant, MSC Cruises, Avion Group, Sugar Music, Sultana Distribution, DHL , Carrie and Aron Rubinstein, Sing for Hope and Monica Yunus, Stefano Marinari and Luca Rossetti, Run Multimedia, Massimo Nebuloni and Alex Monti, Sara Formicola, Andrea Bocelli Team ( Luca Scota, Paolo Marchetti, Ivano Berti, Andrea Taglia, Francesco La Camera, John Gibbon), Studio Legale LCA, Rhona Samuels, Olimpia Hildago. Thanks to the ABF e Fondation St Luc teams, and to Maestros Eugene Kohn, Malcolm Merriweather, Wenson Delice.
“Voices of Haiti”, conducted by Maestro Malcolm J. Merriweather, already have a few important international performances behind them, from the United Nations to the Teatro del Silenzio, and from the Lincoln Center Global Exchange to the general audience with Pope Francis.
The choir is composed of 60 Haitian children aged between 9 and 15 years coming from the most vulnerable areas of Port-au-Prince. Many of them live in the Cité Soleil, the biggest slum of the capital. Thanks to music they have had the chance to get away from violence and poverty by working hard on their own potential. By working on one’s talent, creating opportunities for growth and education for individuals, extremely valuable opportunities are created for the themselves, the group and the whole community.
