Something unique happens when people are drawn together in music…
…sometimes bridges are built, sometimes defenses come down and sometimes hope is found within the hardships of life. And when the music is shared honestly - without an agenda - the pure joy can bring healing to the soul.
For the past five years, The Sister City Music Ambassadors have been bringing the pure joy of jazz music to people all over the world. In 2008 the band travelled to our sister city of Cava de' Tirreni in Italy to build bridges. Language was a huge barrier so jazz was the common tongue. And every night Charlie Tokarz found ways to gather dancing toddlers and their families by playing his saxophone at the village piazza.
In the winter of 2010, Andy and Sue Kelly spent time with the people of Malpasillo, Nicaragua. In schools and homes, the joy of sharing music beyond spoken language was palpable. And once, after exhausting everyone's Spanish skills - and traditional songs - they made up music with hand movements just to keep the blessings flowing. Clearly, the sound of pure hearts joined in song transcends race, culture, religion and class.
Our goal is best articulated by our partners at Sister City International: We believe in promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time. We have experienced the transforming power of beautiful music shared with open hearts - and hope you will want to support us. As we have gone deeper into the unique work of making peace through music, we have discovered that together the music helps us become more creative and centered in our lives. What's more, this helps us live as cooperative, compassionate and constructive people in a harsh and often broken world.
(For more information on the Sister City movement, please go to: www.sister-cities.org)
In addition to playing throughout the region of Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York to advance an appreciation of jazz, the band is currently preparing to visit Istanbul, Turkey, for the next leg of their peace-making through music work. The hope for this trip is three-fold:
◆ To intentionally make new friends with people in a Muslim nation.
◆ To learn and discover ways of building bridges in a troubled time.
◆ To share - and hear - joyful, beautiful music.