Singing People Together

We would like to thank the following for making the dream come true:

Norrbottens läns landsting, Luleå kommun Norrbottens läns arbetsstugor, Luleå stift, Luleå Kulturgymnasium, Lunds missionssällskap, Jokkmokks kommun. Haparanda kommun, Kiruna kommun, Nederluleå församling, Haparanda församlingJokkmokks församling, Övertorneå församling, Luleå domkyrkoförsamling, Filmpool Nord, Luleå grafiska, and Studieförbundet Sensus.

www.singingpeopletogether.com

No

rrbo

tten In

ternatio

nal C

ho

ir Festival 2014

Norrbotten International Choir Festival 2014photo: Stefan Nilsson and Ulf Boström

Singing People Together

Way up in Northern Sweden, in the wintertime, we need help to chant the darkness away. We need to be together. The international choir festival is our tool. It´s aim is to bring people from all over the world closer together through the powerful instrument of song. When different cultures meet with pure hearts and open minds something extraordinary happens. Singing together tears down walls and builds bridges all over the world.

www.singingpeopletogether.com

No

rrbo

tten In

ternatio

nal C

ho

ir Festival 2014

Norrbotten International Choir Festival 2014photo: Stefan Nilsson and Ulf Boström

Luleå and Norrbotten was given one magic week in October 2014 together with our guests from från Cape Town, Port au Prince and New Orleans.

The international choir festival Singing People Together, now in its second edition, experienced an overwhelming week filled with songs, rhythms and dances. But most of all we remember all these meetings that reinforced our belief that singing is a powerful tool to bring people from all over the world closer to each other. When cultures meet and inspire each other something new is born.

Monica Åslund, Artistic directorTomas Lind, Project managerUlf Boström, Coproducer and Editor

Singing People Together

The delegation from Singing People Together performing in Trinity Church, New Orleans. Workshop with The Singing Mustangs at Eleanor Mcmain Secondary School.

Left to right: Ulf Boström, Jonatan Lundberg, Martina Lundberg, Claudine Kunda, Tomas Lind, Carina Olofsson Boström, Emmanuel Kunda, Monica Åslund, Sten Källman and Clyde Lawrence,

This time it all started with a journey. A small delegation from Singing People Together went to New Orleans to establish contacts with the world of gospel. What we found was Clyde ”mr Music” Lawrence, a well reputated choir leader in New Orleans, and his Singing Mustangs.– Gospel music originates from New Orleans. You can go to other places and listen to gospel, but you will never hear it sung like here, mr Lawrence said. After the journey we were happy to invite Clyde Lawrence and the Singing Mustangs to Luleå and Singing People Together.

New Orleans

And suddenly they were all in Luleå. All of our international guests, from New Orleans, South Africa and Haiti. Welcomed at the airport and at the Luleå kulturgymnasium.

Workshop with Sanba Zao at Polcirkelgården in Juoksengi.

Workshop with the Singing Mustangs and students from Kiruna kulturgymnasium.

The South african choir at församlingsgården in Jokkmokk.

With Swedens highest mountains and deepest lakes and the only brackish water archipelago in the world, the county of Norrbotten is an amazing place. We want our international guest to experience Norrbotten and we want to give the people of Norrbotten a chance to enjoy our friends with all their talents.

This year Sanba Zao from Haiti visited Haparanda and Övertorneå, together with his fellow musicians Sten Källman and Jonatan Lundberg.

Mr Clyde Lawrence and his Singing Mustangs crossed the arctic circle on their way to Vittangi and Kiruna. The choir from Cape Town, South Africa and their musical leader, Mr Mandla Kala, took on Jokkmokk and Gällivare.

What they all met was an abundance of hospitality everywhere they went. And and what the people of Norrbotten received was sheer joy and a celebration to song and music.

Touring the county of Norrbotten

The Singing Mustangs in Kiruna Town hall, once elected Swedens most beautiful building.

The delegation from New Orleans together with the Mayor of Luleå, Yvonne Stålnacke.

American-south african selfie.

Back in Luleå the festival started with spontaneous singing in the Town hall and other places in city center. Our guests gave concerts in a crowded Luleå Cathedral two nights in a row followed by glimmering reviews in the local newspapers.

”Rarely this new gothic cathedrals interior has felt more like a room in the world, with people, for people.” Anders Lundqvist, Norrbottenskuriren.

The Concerts in Luleå Cathedral

The following days were filled with workshops. How many songs can one learn in just a few days? Let alone in many different languages? English, kreol, xhosa and swedish. The answer is many. It all started of with Sanba Zao and Sten Källman that taught the students from Luleå Kulturgymnasium to sing in kreol and dance the haitian way. Then it went on for all the participants of the festival with gospel workshops under Mr Lawrence and his Singing Mustangs. Sanba Zao taught us haitian drumming and Mr Mandla Kala and his South african group taught us to sing african folklore.Monica Åslund gave us her festival song ”Here we are” and Sten Källman let us understand more about nordic folklore.

The Workshops

The concluding festival concert at Kulturens hus in Luleå. Top left: Mr Clyde Lawrence and the Singing Mustangs. Bottom left: the Kunda family. Top right: Sanba Zao with Jonatan Lundberg and Sten Källman. Bottom right: the South African choir.

The workshop choir at the concluding festival concert.

After an overwhelming week it’s time to say goodbye. Hopefully we will meet again at Singing People Together 2016!