Youth ensemble emulates ethos of West-Eastern Divan Orchestra by tackling negative attitudes towards Roma people and promoting tolerance About 30 young musicians are blowing and plucking,making music in a school hall in Newham, east London. But this orchestra is playing nothing but Roma music from Romania, or Slovakia and Poland. The Roma Bridging Sounds Youth Orchestra was set up in 2014 with Arts Council money by the Roma Support Group and Newham Music charities. The orchestra aims to atomize down cultural barriers and combat the prejudice affecting Roma people. Tania Gessi,arts and culture coordinator at the Roma Support Group, says that, and alongside teaching music,the aim is to take the players (Roma and non-Roma alike) out of their consolation zone, “because they beget to mix with other kids and other professional musicians”. Related: The genuine story of Britain's Roma: excluded, or ignored and neglected Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com