2013 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge
2013 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge
2013 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
98 INDIA PHOTO CALL I <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
India Photo Call<br />
The photographs in this section were taken during the trip by members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong><br />
Choir in March <strong>2013</strong>. Our aim was to bring the joy <strong>of</strong> music to children in the slums <strong>of</strong><br />
Mumbai in collaboration with Songbound, a music outreach initiative established by<br />
<strong>Cambridge</strong> graduate Joseph Walters in 2011. Songbound uses music to inspire poor<br />
communities by providing life-changing opportunities. Our trip was the start <strong>of</strong> what we<br />
hope will be an ongoing project.<br />
We conducted workshops with more than 200 children in a number <strong>of</strong> charity funded<br />
schools and centres. We led the children in playful warm-ups and breathing exercises and,<br />
while attention was paid to singing technique, the focus was on sharing the joy <strong>of</strong> music<br />
between people <strong>of</strong> different ages and cultures. At the end <strong>of</strong> the project, a number <strong>of</strong> children<br />
joined the Choir on the stage <strong>of</strong> blueFROG in central Mumbai for a concert celebrating the<br />
achievements <strong>of</strong> the previous week.<br />
The Choir’s visit coincided with the Hindu festival <strong>of</strong> Holi. We worked on songs about<br />
colour, including Lavender’s Blue and I can sing a rainbow as well as Indian songs including<br />
Vande mataram and Sawalee (a song written by the children in one <strong>of</strong> the centres visited). We<br />
also performed for <strong>Cambridge</strong> alumni in Mumbai and gave a concert to a capacity audience<br />
in the Basilica Bom <strong>Jesus</strong> in Goa.<br />
Joe Walters, Founder and CEO <strong>of</strong> Songbound, described the project as ‘utterly inspiring<br />
and mind-blowing’ and members <strong>of</strong> the Choir would all agree that the experience was one<br />
which will stay with us for the rest <strong>of</strong> our lives.<br />
Through our fundraising efforts, including a sponsored run, cake sales, beard-growing<br />
and the like, the Choir has raised enough money to ensure that each <strong>of</strong> the centres and<br />
schools visited during the trip will be able to run a choir for at least three years. A cheque for<br />
£10,000 was presented to Joe Walters from Songbound after Evensong on Tuesday 11th June.<br />
Mr Walters thanked the Choir for their work in India which he described as ‘life-changing’.<br />
We intend to work with Songbound to establish a regular programme <strong>of</strong> cultural exchange<br />
between the UK and India. More information can be found on the Choir website<br />
(www.jesuscollegechoir.com).<br />
Natasha Brice
Change language