IOR Teams with Jesuit Refugee Service and Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky for World Refugee Day 2021
BOSTON, MA, June 17, 2021 - For World Refugee Day 2021, the International Orchestra of Refugees is proud to team with Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS) and Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky for Faster, Stronger, Higher.
With the support of Olympic Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, refugee athletes, and JRS Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Specialist Katie Mullins, Faster, Stronger, Higher featured a discussion on refugee mental wellbeing, athletics, and the celebration of refugee talent. The Refugee Anthem, performed by the International Orchestra of Refugees followed the discussion.
The Refugee Anthem was composed by Arian Hu, a resettled Syrian refugee composer, for the Refugee Olympic Team that participated in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. The reprise of the Refugee Anthem comes at a pivotal time where 1% of the world’s population is forcibly displaced. Following the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Refugee Olympic Team will participate in the Summer Olympic Games for the second time, this time featuring 29 resilient athletes.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, says, “This will be a symbol of hope for all refugees in the world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis. It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.”
This performance was dedicated to the Jesuit Refugee Service, the 29 refugee athletes participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the refugees these athletes represent from all around the world.
To rewatch the event, tune into the video here:
The Refugee Anthem performance for Faster, Stronger, Higher featured musicians Patron Yemery, Prince Ntalagana, and Alembe Mlongecha, and was recorded at The Record Co. in Boston, Massachusetts. The track was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin O’Connell. View the video below to rewatch the studio performance of The Refugee Anthem.
The International Orchestra of Refugees, Inc. is a non-profit whose mission is to connect talented refugee musicians with meaningful opportunities to preserve their cultural heritage, find economic prosperity, and boost social integration. To support the activities of the International Orchestra of Refugees, visit our donate page.