“Sounds Like Home” Choir

Elements of this Project:

Photograph’s of Participants
Poster’s
Promotional Outreach Pack
Photograph’s of Performance

The Sounds Like Home Choir is an international women’s choir open to migrant and refugee women living in and around Hackney. The open-access choir was created in 2023 in partnership with Counterpoints Arts and Museum of the Home and has now run for a full year, with 28 sessions over three terms, five performances and 40 participants from diverse backgrounds in Hackney. Members are refugee and migrant women of first and second generation, ranging from 25 - 75 years old, most of whom have never sung in a choir before or had access to funded arts programmes. Concepts of home, identity and belonging are explored through song; those we associate with different parts of our lives and the places we’ve called home.

The choir’s repertoire is made up of songs suggested by members. We explore multiple genres and languages, and so far, we have performed in Turkish, Spanish, Urdu, Yuroba and more. The venerable activity of acapella group singing aids in developing social bonds and improves emotional well-being, which is vital for those who have experienced isolation or trauma.

I act as co-lead for this project and support women in the choir with additional support needs, providing support and input in the delivery and development of the choir. I also act as the designer and create all of the choir’s promotional assets for participants and external stakeholders.

We have received funding from Old Street community pot, cultural hackney rounds one and two, and Welcome Hackney's Refugee Week small grants programme. We are currently in the process of applying for Arts Council national lottery funding.