Spring Concert Preview: Everyday Wonders

By Maggie Symington

On May 31 and June 1, 2024, Concentus Women’s Chorus will be performing concerts of “Songs through the Senses” to honor the work of Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services*. (Click here for more details and to purchase tickets!)

The cornerstone piece of our concerts is “Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo,” with music by Cecilia McDowall. The lyrics are taken directly from The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen’s Escape from War to Freedom, by Nujeen Mustafa and Christina Lamb**. Both works tell the moving and true story of two sisters fleeing Syria for the safety of Germany, and the obstacles they face along the way — especially as Nujeen, who has cerebral palsy, must travel by wheelchair. Nujeen was even featured on an episode of John Oliver eight years ago!

Concentus performed this work last summer in Kent, England, where we collaborated with Vox Anima Chamber Choir. We were privileged to have the composer in the audience, and we knew we must bring this moving and important piece to audiences in Rochester.

Save the dates for this not-to-be-missed concert: May 31 and June 1!

*Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services (RRRS) provides services and opportunities to ensure assimilation of refugees into our society by providing assistance as they strive to be self-sustaining neighbors while still maintaining their own cultural heritage. Concentus will be making a donation to the organization, in addition to working to raise awareness of RRRS in the community.

**Book Culture is an independent book store in the Village of Pittsford, around the corner from Concentus’ home base at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, and the location of our May 31 concert. To encourage people to purchase the book from Book Culture, we are offering an additional entry to win a door prize at each of our concerts for those showing a receipt for the book from that store. Shop local!

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Check out our other concert preview blogs:

Spring Concert Preview: Song of Miriam

Spring Concert Preview: Paper Crane