Collective Singing for Social Inclusion: A More Than 10-Year Journey for Lebanon’s Fayha Choir

In this article, author and conductor Barkev Taslakian shares how Lebanon’s Fayha Choir joined forces to become one of the most culturally aware ensembles singing for social inclusion. The Sing Me in Project calls collective singing “a social act.” Taslakian highlights the importance of singing together as it creates “a strong, emotional and happy connection, even between people with very different ways of life.”

With the efforts presented in this article, organizations were able to change the lives of many youths through collective singing. Living in an area with the highest refugee ratio and a history of civil war and internal conflicts, these students reacted to what they were accustomed to. They were chaotic and violent and had no interest in their physical appearance or working with others. By the end of this journey, leaders could see the student's behavior change towards each other.

As I read this article, I began to think of my choral ensembles and the students I work with daily. I then began to think about the definition of collective singing provided by the author and Sing Me in Project, and I can’t stop thinking of my first-year students joining a collegiate choir for the first time and how they become connected, creating “a strong, emotional and happy connection” with their classmates. It makes me think of how the music brings them together. It makes me think of how I play a part in this role. It also makes me think of how we rethink not just choral singing but music education. Through my studies, ensemble rehearsal was all about learning the notes and preparing for a concert. With the times we live in, we need to think about how our world connects to the music we teach.