The Refugee Orchestra Project
is a collective of displaced and immigrant musicians performing together several times a year, showcasing the music of composers who were persecuted and forced to flee their homelands.
So many composers throughout history, "you never even thought of as seeking political asylum," soprano Olga Lisovska, a soloist with the Refugee Orchestra Project told NEPM. The group held a 10th anniversary concert in Worcester, March 2, 2026.
Listen to the entire story:
/regional-news/2026-03-04/orchestra-of-refugees-immigrants-build-empathy-through-music
Lily Tseng performed with the Refugee Orchestra Project at Mechanics Hall last week and contributed to something special. A first-generation American with roots in Taiwan, she reflects on the complexity of identity and origin. She hopes people will one day better understand that, despite coming from different countries, we share a common humanity.
Two suitcases. A baby. The United States.
That is the story Mary Kouyoumdjian’s Armenian parents carried when they arrived in this country — and it is the story she tells in her piece for the Refugee Orchestra Project, through intimate voice recordings drawn from interview sessions.
An Afghan composer meditates on a journey taken to the sea.
A Ukrainian composer offers a homage to Mariupol — to a city and the lives scarred by its destruction.
A Haitian-American composer interprets the Black National Anthem.
A Russian-American composer sets the vivid portraits of mid-20th century California.
On March 13th, the Refugee Orchestra Project performs Imaginary Peace: Sounds of Migration at National Sawdust — one of New York’s most important contemporary music venues — bringing together composers who were forced to leave their homelands and the music through which they have expressed those life-altering experiences.
In the cello section: Valeriya Sholokhova.
Valeriya has graced the Night at the Triad stage numerous times — sometimes solo, sometimes collaborating seamlessly with others, once bringing her extraordinary Trio Fadolín. She is one of the most courageous musicians we have ever had the privilege of presenting — a Ukrainian-American cellist who was born in Kyiv, trained at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Saturday Night Live. She is also a founder of the Ukrainian Music Initiative and a principal cellist of the Refugee Orchestra Project itself — which means this concert is not just a performance she is part of. It is a mission she has helped build.
This is important music. Made by people who have earned the right to make it.
📅 Thursday, March 13th · Doors 6:30pm · Show 7:30pm 📍 National Sawdust · Brooklyn, NYC 🎟 nationalsawdust.org
#refugeeorchestraproject #imaginarypeace #nationalsawdust
A magical evening with the @refugeeorchestraproject , conducted by Maestra @lidiyaconductor , who, in spite of a very busy schedule of her international career, makes time for what is truly important - bringing humanity closer together! Grateful to have been part of this amazing performance! ✨
Carina DiGianfilippo carries a family story that spans oceans and generations. 💛🌍
Her grandparents immigrated from Abruzzo, Italy through Ellis Island and built a life in Chicago, working long hours to create opportunities for their children. That determination shaped the next generation too, including Carina’s father, who went on to become a neurosurgeon.
On her mother’s side, her great-grandparents came to the U.S. from Swinford and Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland. They lived within 30 minutes of each other back home, but didn’t meet until Chicago, where they both showed up at the same Irish social dance. ☘️✨
Carina still has family in both Italy and Ireland, and those visits became a treasured part of her childhood. She’s excited to celebrate these journeys and gather in community at the concert tomorrow. 🎶
REFUGEE ORCHESTRA PROJECT PRESENTS IMAGINARY PEACE: SOUNDS OF MIGRATION // 2 WEEKS AWAY // FRIDAY, MARCH 13
The Refugee Orchestra Project was founded in 2016 as a way to unite refugee musicians. Since its inception, Refugee Orchestra Project has performed with ensembles and artists like the London Symphony Orchestra, Chi-chi Nwanoko, Gity Razaz, and more.
The Refugee Orchestra Project shares music by composers who were forced to leave their homelands, as they express these life-altering experiences through music and story-telling. Join refugee composers and performers on their journey, as we celebrate what it means to live the American dream.
This performance is made possible thanks to the generous support of Sue Hermann.
Tickets selling FAST // Get yours today at our link in bio!
#NS11 #SeeYourselfAtSawdust
In advance of this Sunday’s concert, Refugee Orchestra project featured on WBUR this morning! Milad Yousufi had this to say: “When I share this music, that feels very fulfilling and something very rewarding for me, it’s because I’m living a dream life.’ Tickets this Sunday are pay what you can starting at $10. Youths go FREE.
Soprano Vanessa Naghdi brings a story sculpted by movement, memory, and music. A Persian-American artist, her father was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States in the 1970s, and her mother is American, with English and German roots. They met in Washington, D.C., and built a family there.
Refugee Orchestra Project is thrilled to welcome Vanessa to the stage at Mechanics Hall this Sunday for a concert that celebrates the wonderful creative contributions of immigrants and refugees. @musicworcester
Tenor Scott Ballantine will help bring refugee voices to the stage as part of Refugee Orchestra Project’s special program at historic Mechanics Hall on Sunday, March 1.
Scott’s own family story begins with a great-great-grandmother who immigrated to the United States from Finland on her own. The rest of his roots are a blend of Irish, Scottish, and English, with a touch of German.
It’s a reminder that so many family histories start with someone brave enough to cross borders, and that those roots travel far. Join Refugee Orchestra Project at Mechanics Hall on Sunday, March 1. 💛🎶
Fanny Lora is a proud Dominican-American mezzo-soprano with a bit of a boomerang story. 🪃✨
Born in the United States, she grew up in the Dominican Republic while her father pursued PhD research in the DR wetlands, and later returned to the U.S. with that cross-cultural upbringing close to her heart. Now based here, Fanny is also married to an immigrant and raising two children. For her, singing with the Refugee Orchestra Project is deeply personal, and a true honor. 💛🌍🎶
And we LOVE having her on stage in Mechanics Hall on March 1. The link is in the bio for “pay what you will” tickets (youth also go free). @musicworcester
REFUGEE ORCHESTRA PROJECT PRESENTS IMAGINARY PEACE: SOUNDS OF MIGRATION // 1 MONTH AWAY // FRIDAY, MARCH 13
The Refugee Orchestra Project shares music by composers who were forced to leave their homelands, as they express these life-altering experiences through music and story-telling. Join refugee composers and performers on their journey, as we celebrate what it means to live the American dream.
This performance is made possible thanks to the generous support of Sue Hermann.
Tickets selling FAST // Get yours today at our link in bio!
#NS11 #SeeYourselfAtSawdust
