Louisville Orchestra director welcomes refugees through music
Updated: 5:22 PM EDT May 1, 2017
Catholic Charities of Louisville hosted Louisville Orchestra music director Teddy Abrams, who shared instruments and impromptu song lyrics with dozens of refugees.
Advertisement
Many of the refugees are facing a time of uncertainty regarding immigration issues; today’s concert was meant to help them relax and de-stress.
More information on the refugee program can be found here.
WEBVTT PORTUNITY TODAY AT CATHOLICCHARITIES.YOU PLAY WHEN I PLAY.REPORTER MONDAY MORNING DOZENS, OF REFUGEES GATHERED FOR ANINFORMAL PERFORMANCE WITH TEDDYABRAMS THE MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE, LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA.MANY IN THIS ROOM HAVE ONLY BEENIN THE U.S. FOR A MONTH OR TWO.THEY’RE NOW HOPING TO START ANEW LIFE.>> IT’S BEEN A REALLY STRESSFULTIME FOR OUR CLIENTS AND THEIRFAMILIES, FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERAS WELL.THERE’S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ANDTO BE HONEST IT’S REALLY HARD TO, GET OUR CLIENTS TO SMILE THESEDAYS.>> ♪REPORTER: BUT THE SMILES CAME.ABRAMS PROVIDED THE INSTRUMENTSAND THE IMPROMPTU SONG LYRICS.AND THE REFUGEES, MANY OF WHOMDON’T SPEAK ENGLISH, SANG ALONG.>> MUY BONITREPORTER: HORTENSIA GONZALEZCALLED TODAY’S EVENT VERYBEAUTIFUSHE CAME TO THE U.S. FROM CUBA.IN FACT, IN THE PAST THREEMONTHS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES HHELPED RESETTLE 149 PEOPLE FROMCUBA.>> ♪>> THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF, ASA MUSICIAN, YOU KIND OF LIVEFOR.>> THE JOB OF THE ARORGANIZATIONS HERE AND THEORCHESTRA SPECIFICALLY IS MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL WELCOME, TMAKE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE FEELWELCOME. REPORTER SINCE JANUARY 30,CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS WELCOMED313 REFUGEES FROM 16 COUNTRIES,INCLUDING THE DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF CONGO, SOMALIA ANDSYRIA.WHILE THEY’RE NOT SURE HOW THEIRORGANIZATION WILL BE IMPACTED BYFUTURE LEGISLATION, FOR NOWTHEY’RE CONTINUING TO HELPREFUGEES ACCLIMATE TO THE U.S.ABRAMS SAYS HE HOPES TO GET SOMEOF THE REFUGEES TO A CONCERT F