Pihcintu Girls Choir was Supported by Members of the Portland Symphony Orchestra is Directed by Con Fullam, its Creator.
Kinab Azmeh’s City Band Entertained With Upbeat Music. He Arrived in New York City from Syria Five Years Ago.
Reza Jalali, Executive Director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, Portland. and Mary Starr, Operations Manager for the Center, Following the Celebration. The Center was one of the Sponsors of the Two-day Event.
“Amal” is a 12 ft.Puppet Shown on a Giant Screen Controlled on the Syrian/ Turkish Border Where it was Around 9:00 pm.
Letters of wisdom and a girls’ chorus of inspirational music focused on displaced children embarked on their own challenging journeys were offered by those who have already made that lonely journey this afternoon. A concert of music and letters of encouragement to Amal, an imaginary 9-year old girl walking alone in Syria to find her mother, took place at Ocean Gateway on the east end of Portland.
The concert was the final event in a three part series this weekend that had to battle mother nature at times to stay on course. Persistence more than paid off as a crowd of about 100 were treated to music performed by several members of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Kinan Azmeh & City Band and the voices of the Pihcintu Girls Chorus.
Earlier in the day a parade, “Parade With Us,” that was scheduled to leave Monument Square at 1:00 and proceed to the Ocean Gateway, was cancelled because of the rainy weather. The Parade was hosted by Mayo Street Arts & Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center.
Last night a concert on the Eastern Promenade went forward, It was by Kinan Azmeh’s City Band. The New York City group played at the Fort Allen Park Bandstand. (See above photo.)
Women who have already made the challenging journey advised Amal to “allow hardships to teach you about life, and to live in the moment because you don’t know what is coming next.” When the letters of wisdom by those who have already traveled that path were read, they were dropped into a green bottle beside them.
In between the messages, the Pihcintu Girls Chorus, gave touching musical renderings. “Somewhere There is a Place for You” and “This Little Light of Mine” were particularly inspiring tributes to those lost in a place not of their own making.
Near the end of the concert, the woman picked up the green bottle full of letters to Amal and took it out on the balcony of the Ocean Gateway. In one big gesture, they tossed the green bottle over the railing – toward anyone on this journey who needs encouragement and support to continue.
Con Fullam, Director of the Pihcintus Girls Choir, said that it is composed of 30 girls from 22 countries. They rehearse at the Root Cellar on Washington Avenue on the east end of Portland.
“This was about showing humanity and showcasing Maine’s generosity toward immigrants,” said Reza Jalali, Executive Director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, Preble Street, following the 45 minute concert. He came to the US from Syria thirty years ago.
Kinan Azmeh, one of the sponsors of the concert, is a celebrated Syrian clarinet player who studied at Julliard. He has performed numerous times in the United States.