Peace Seekers V: Lead the Way
Concert at Merkin Concert Hall, January 21, 2017
From 2012 onwards Every Voice Choirs has presented an annual Peace Seekers concert during the week in which our nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In our first Peace Seekers concert, we honored Dr. King and four fellow laureates of the Nobel Peace prize, reading portions of each honoree’s acceptance speech. In our concert the following year, we presented the EVC Peace Seeker award to Ms. Leila Zerrougui, the United Nations Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict. After that, we turned our focus to exploring and expressing what the children of EVC saw as their roles working toward peace and its prerequisite, justice. In the two concerts that followed, we featured original songs by the Youth Choir, written in response to civil rights issues of the time.
In 2017 we continued on that course. Not surprisingly, conversations this fall were shaped by the election. We talked about leadership, not only on a national scale, but in the myriad forms it takes in our students’ lives. The children spoke and wrote about the impact of the leaders in their own lives, identifying qualities that they admire in these strong leaders. Here are some of their words:
“Leadership means to me something that’s like a small light in a world of darkness and the darkness is a strong feeling and the light softens the feeling.”
“Leadership means being fair, just, and doing what’s right and kind, not what’s popular.”
“Who will defend a group of people? Who people look up to - will do good - will make changes - will be open to change?”
“Leadership in my mind means kindness, helping, being a role model, standing up for what’s right, taking things seriously, believing.”
“Having leadership is having the power to make a difference.”
“Leadership means to me responsibility for a country or even a family. Not a dictatorship. You don’t control them; you guide them to a better choice.”
“Modeling what to do when you are in a struggle with other people.”
“Finding ways to help your community and whoever is in need, taking action.”
“A fair, selfless person that knows how to lead but not to boss.”
“If you want to be a leader, then it is important to pay attention to people’s beliefs. We should step up to show who we are and allow our beliefs to be heard.”
Truth be told, at the time of this writing, our song is not finished, and we can’t anticipate where questions of leadership will lead us in just the few weeks before we perform. Amidst today’s uncertainty, I think we can find comfort in focusing on the voices of these young people. Let’s empower them to seize the opportunity – and accept the responsibility – of modeling the leadership they envision.
-- Nicole Becker, Artistic Director
In 2017 we continued on that course. Not surprisingly, conversations this fall were shaped by the election. We talked about leadership, not only on a national scale, but in the myriad forms it takes in our students’ lives. The children spoke and wrote about the impact of the leaders in their own lives, identifying qualities that they admire in these strong leaders. Here are some of their words:
“Leadership means to me something that’s like a small light in a world of darkness and the darkness is a strong feeling and the light softens the feeling.”
“Leadership means being fair, just, and doing what’s right and kind, not what’s popular.”
“Who will defend a group of people? Who people look up to - will do good - will make changes - will be open to change?”
“Leadership in my mind means kindness, helping, being a role model, standing up for what’s right, taking things seriously, believing.”
“Having leadership is having the power to make a difference.”
“Leadership means to me responsibility for a country or even a family. Not a dictatorship. You don’t control them; you guide them to a better choice.”
“Modeling what to do when you are in a struggle with other people.”
“Finding ways to help your community and whoever is in need, taking action.”
“A fair, selfless person that knows how to lead but not to boss.”
“If you want to be a leader, then it is important to pay attention to people’s beliefs. We should step up to show who we are and allow our beliefs to be heard.”
Truth be told, at the time of this writing, our song is not finished, and we can’t anticipate where questions of leadership will lead us in just the few weeks before we perform. Amidst today’s uncertainty, I think we can find comfort in focusing on the voices of these young people. Let’s empower them to seize the opportunity – and accept the responsibility – of modeling the leadership they envision.
-- Nicole Becker, Artistic Director
