In June 2006, the Hurricane Choir gave three very successful and entertaining performances at the Jefferson Baptist Church that impressed many people from all walks of life including survivors of the two Hurricanes. The spirit and energy from each performance was remarkable and to hear the great wall of sound brought some people to tears both in the audience and the choir.
To see something positive come from such a terrible occurrence was incredibly rewarding. No where else in the world has such a choir formed from the wake of such devastating circumstances. This is a point in which all people associated with the Hurricane Choir, including our sponsors, should be immensely proud.
Although the Hurricane Choir is dwarfed by the shear scale of the catastrophe along the Gulf Coast, the people who should be very proud of their combined achievement are the many who unselfishly volunteered from Australia, Canada and the locals of Baton Rouge and New Orleans region such as Praireville, Sidell, St Francesville, Covington, Livingstone, the North Shore, New Orleans and many other places around southern Louisiana to form and document the rise of the Hurricane Choir and that made these concerts a reality.
However, the real people who should be the most proud and the most congratulated above any are the members of the Hurricane Choir! These are the people who struggled with their losses, who wanted to help others, who volunteered to do the many sundry tasks, who tirelessly learned the lyrics (specially the Australian Indigenous song in its’ native language, “Ngoongar” which translates as the Welcome song), rehearsed their individual pieces with visto, who sang with their hearts, who gave up much of their free time, who endlessly perservered through rehearsals with the choir and, last but not least those who were able to take part in the June Concert Series and later in the November performance. You have touched the hearts of many people. You are the one’s that proved the Hurricane Choir project could be done.
As a direct result of participating with the Hurricane Choir, many members who were affected by the hurricanes suffered less, they were empowered more and many of these people have created a new life from virtually nothing - something that appeared completely impossible just two years ago.
It is unfortunate that many others who are still wandering, who really need to be reached out to with the healing power of music from the Hurricane Choir remain in stagnation, alienation and desolation with little progress from where they stood not long after the hurricane strikes. It is not our issue that we all know the number of people in this category is much higher than we are lead to believe, but that the importance and relevance of the Hurricane Choir which is far greater than we initially imagined.
May the healing power of this music be with you and those you can reach out to. Our job has only just begun…
