NoteS (🎵) of Support to displaced MusicianS
Let us construct these bridges through our shared humanity and musical heritage - linking the wisdom of the past with the present and proclaiming these truths for the future, uniting generations of musicians, communities, narratives and aspirations… so that when challenges arise, our interconnectedness endures.
In alignment with our mission to bridge cultural understanding through music and the performing arts, Sound Bridges International Company dedicates this space to support and amplify the voices of displaced musicians affected by heartbreaking conflict and unrest. As artists, we have an imperative social responsibility to support our musical communities around the globe.
At the bottom of this page, you are invited to send a note of encouragement to musicians displaced from their homes, teaching studios and concert stages. Your messages will be shared with the musicians we are in contact with.
Screenshot captured October 11th, 2023
“Yes I remember that moment. I was receiving lots of messages at that point. The atmosphere was very strange. Our apartment is an old apartment, it’s not well isolated at all from the outside. You spend 95% of your time at home, because you think that being outside is irresponsible, a siren might sound and then you have to improvise some kind of protection. The best is to run into a building and go into the basement. Honestly I wouldn’t be so concerned if I were alone, but as I am living with my wife who is not from Israel and not used to this, I feel much more responsibility. So we stay at home. Because our home is not well isolated (sound wise) occasionally you hear what sounds like far away thunder. In the beginning we didn’t understand what it was, then we understood that it was the sounds of bombs exploding far away. You try to lead a normal life, try to be productive, but all the time ready to run down to the shelter if there is a siren. Because our home is not well isolated (sound wise) occasionally you hear what sounds like far away thunder. In the beginning we didn’t understand what it was, then we understood that it was the sounds of bombs exploding far away. You try to lead a normal life, try to be productive, but all the time ready to run down to the shelter if there is a siren.
Your senses become sharper and sharper, like a wild animal. At the same time, in Tel Aviv the situation was nothing to compare with that of the people living near the Gaza Strip. And we spent our days trying to be active, but in fact just watching the news, watching testimonies of people that their loved ones were abducted, videos of last phone calls between mothers and their children.
Trying to live a normal life, but at the same time looking at people in the street with caution. There were reports coming out of thousands of terrorists that crossed the border, and there was no guarantee that some hadn’t made it to Tel Aviv. For me the worst was nighttime. The feeling that they might want to attack at night, that I shouldn’t be alert during the night, if there would be some siren. To run fast, what should we take with us. And all the time I had a feeling of guilt, that our situation was in fact nothing to compare with the people down south.”
Ori Wissner-Levy | Violinist and member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra