Kusimama is written in a world-music style that is accessible for choirs, both young and old, that are just beginning to be exposed to world rhythms and language - a sort of introduction to new

"I ask for one day where I don't have to hear about pain, or life that's lost, I ask for one day where whispers of hope are alive inside my heart." These words, written by 5th graders in a writing workshop,

Expressing a powerful message of hope for a better world, this dynamic piece strikes a universal chord for all to hear! The quiet and subdued opening gradually builds to a dramatic musical statement using

Full of life and energy, this work in Spanish and English expresses the plea of Mexican children to the rest of the world to listen to their cry for help. The percussion and bass parts (included in the

"Can you hear my cries? I am calling out to you." The global community of children speaks together in this dramatic call for a better future that uses worldbeat sounds, unified chordal harmonies, and

With a powerful pop/gospel feel, this work captures the hopes and wishes of young people's thoughts on how to improve the world. Written in a youth song writing workshop, the idea of "rising as a people" is

For SA voices with divisi, this inspiring selection uses percussion to simulate a heartbeat and from that bringing forth a simple idea - that reaching even just one heart can be a very powerful gesture.

"When I close my eyes then I can see that I am not afraid." This song of confidence and hope for young voices resonates with positive lyrics, a strong melody and an expressive accompaniment for piano and

Beautifully melodic, with a great beat and a great message, this "world music" piece has a text in Swahili which translates as, "We have a right." Imbakwa was written for the score of a film about

This energetic, uplifting work fuses the rhythms of African, American and Latin cultures, and uses a text primarily in Swahili but interspersed with phrases in Spanish. Supported by shaker, djembe and agogo

Born out of the composer's virtual songwriting workshops with students during the pandemic of 2020, this piece expresses the thoughts and feelings of the younger generation. With themes of love, hope,

Kuwa Furaha is a song about joy. More specifically, it is about the simple and beautiful way that children have of showing and expressing their joy. Jim Papoulis is well known for his world music

The essence of this work, in a world of conflict and violence, is the need for a deep understanding that peace can come from all of us. After the opening phrase, "Look in the eyes of the children, feel the

Written in a Foundation for Small Voices song-writing workshop hosted by the Cincinnati Children's Choir, the students' message is loud and clear: "Whatever your journey, whatever your beliefs, whatever

With Gnothi Safton, composer Jim Papoulis raises the profile of Boomwhackers out of the elementary classroom and onto the concert stage. Including an original inspirational text that urges young

Celebrating the many reasons that we sing: "It fills my soul, it reaches something deep inside my heart, it makes me feel, more than anything." These lines and emotions are woven through this piece as the

Written in a songwriting workshop, here is a song of multifaceted hopes. "I wanna believe in beauty, I wanna be seen in darkness, I wanna be heard in chaos." Composed in the world music style that has

Young people are almost always full of hope and energy; this work takes those traits and focuses them on the importance of young people cherishing our planet in a socially responsive way. With pop, rock,

This work has a mission: celebrate and unite the different cultures in our society by offering an upbeat and powerful anthem that includes Arabic, Bosnian, Hebrew and English. An easy-to-read phonetic

The text, with a message that celebrates humanity and acceptance, does so using both English and Arabic as a way of celebrating cultures that make up a significant part of our community. Arabic phrases and

Tyler Clementi put a face on the consequences of cruelty. Through the Tyler Clementi Foundation, tens of thousands of youth and adults have been inspired to speak out and stand up in the face of bullying,

Celebrating the inner strength that is unique to each of us, this work identifies the choral music room and the friends we make there as a safe place. We are reminded of the power of music making and the