TEN YEARS AGO, Songs of Hope danced and sang their way into my heart at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault. Now this group of young musicians and performers from around the world will be back in town, this time at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, at the historic Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour.
I encourage you, if you live in the area, to attend this free 90-minute concert in the Cathedral, which boasts incredible acoustics in a remarkable setting. The concert is part of the Cathedral’s Merner Concert series offering free music to the community.
Young people from Finland, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica, Turkey, Madagascar and the USA will present a program that features singing, dancing and cultural dress in a high energy show. I can vouch for that. When I attended the Songs of Hope performance at River Bend in 2014, I felt, heard and saw their energy. I left feeling uplifted and incredibly hopeful about the future of this world.
In a time when there’s so much conflict, so much discontent, so much unease, this coming together of international youth infuses hope into communities. And who doesn’t want to feel hope?
These youth are sharing their cultures via their performance art and dress. When we begin to learn about other cultures, we begin to recognize the commonalities among us, rather than that which we think divides us. We all share basic human needs of food, shelter and love.
The name, Songs of Hope, fits this group, which is part of St. Paul-based Sounds of Hope. Youth ages ten and older from around the world attend a six-week overnight performing arts summer camp before heading out on a three-week concert tour. Those concerts are performed in the Twin Cities metro and in communities outside the Cities, primarily in southeastern Minnesota.
To have Songs of Hope back in Faribault, a decidedly diverse, but not always united, community, is a gift to all of us.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
what a fun event! I bet it will be well attended. We all need messages of joy and hope.
You would love Songs of Hope, Beth Ann. And, yes, we all need joy and hope.
Love the creative and even better is seeing young people expressing the creative, their culture, their traditions, et. al. with others 🙂 I am so lucky to live in a diverse and creative community and that young to older get involved within their community to share their talents with others. This even stems into the young talent of baseball and softball players here too in having the Spring Training and Minor Leagues here in town. That well roundedness. I was blessed to have that in my childhood growing up – arts to sports and everything in between. Happy Day – THANKS so much for sharing – ENJOY!
What a wonderful community you live in to have that diversity and sharing of cultures and talents. I love how positive you always are in your comments. Whenever I read your words, I feel happy. Thank you!
looks wonderful. enjoy if you can go!!
Kathyg
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend. But I expect a lot of people will.
what amazing young people, that is so great that they returned to your town. what a great initiative and it is a win for the performers as well as the audience. the mix of cultures and people are a great lesson for all to experience –
Unfortunately, I was out of town and unable to attend. But I heard from a friend that the concert was well attended.
That looks like a fun event. What a great way to bring people together.
I missed the concert because we were on vacation. But I attended one day of the international unicycling convention in Bemidji, which was a great experience with people from around the world. Stories and photos forthcoming sometime this week.