In our next two concerts this May, entitled Where will I be?, musicians from NW Live Arts collaborate with participants from Single Homeless Project to present a vividly imagined concert of classical, folk and world music interspersed with storytelling drawing on myth and legend.

Participants from Single Homeless Project have been taking part in storytelling workshops in the lead up to the concert, with facilitator Eileen Egerton and the musicians. They will showcase the creative results of these workshops exploring the human experience and personal meaning of being homeless and finding a pathway, not simply back but forward, to a new place of hope. Our Artistic Director, Caroline Heslop recently attended one of the workshops and shares here thoughts in this blog.

In this workshop, we were also joined by violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva. After introductions were made, she played The Swan and one participant shared her feelings about the music – it made her think of romance, a river in Paris, and that perhaps something dramatic was happening. We could already see the beginnings of a story forming. 

Sabina then played one of her own compositions, an expressive piece with a powerful story of home, belonging and yearning: she wrote it when she was living in New York, missing her home in Azerbaijan – the piece is based on an Azeri song that Sabina’s mother had sang to her down the phone. Sabina shared her story and what it’s like to move around the world, and I could feel a closeness growing between members of the group at that point. I was touched by an improvisatory moment between Sabina and a participant – each reacting with music and story to an image on a postcard. 

Sabina rehearses for ‘Where will I be?’ © Hugh Schulte

Sharing our own stories is such a profound way to form connections, foster understanding, and promote wellbeing, and it’s something almost all of us do in our everyday lives – with our friends, family and colleagues. It’s a form of intimacy, and the honesty and openness displayed in the workshops is testament to the fact that Eileen has created such a wonderful ambience – a safe and supportive environment – for the musicians and participants alike. One of the participants commented that it “felt like a family”, and all said they looked forward to the sessions a great deal. 

Musicians rehearse for ‘Where will I be?’ © Hugh Schulte

I’m just so excited to see what happens on the concert day!

— Caroline Heslop, April 2022

Where will I be? is coming to Swiss Cottage Library on 14 May and to the Foundling Museum on 27 May. Tickets are priced from just £12 and can be booked online now.