"It feels very strengthening and empowering to come here tonight to this wonderfully international event and celebrate our common humanity, our common love of music, to sing together and play together, and listen to each other - it's so heartening." Juliet Stevenson
"What incredible work you are doing, reaching out to people in such need." Joyce DiDonato
OUR MISSION
The World Harmony Orchestra is an ensemble of professional and international musicians based in London performing for peace and humanitarian causes, raising funds and awareness for charities.
We believe that society should be like an orchestra, where everyone plays their part and has their voice heard.
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Schubert: "The world resembles a stage on which every man is playing a part."
Mozart: "Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius.
Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius"
Britten: "The whole of my life has been devoted to acts of creation and I can not take part in acts of destruction."
At WHO, you will meet generous musicians WHO believe in the fantastic power of music to bring people together and WHO perform repertoire that is meaningful and poignant, expressing hope, igniting empathy about tragic issues and inspiring people to act.
Classical music can sometimes feel disconnected from reality. However, when it highlights today’s issues, it does not lose its prestige. On the contrary, it becomes truly magical and majestic with the power to speak beyond words.
We currently focus our work towards the refugee crisis, as it is one of the most dramatic current topics. Through our music, we want to give a voice to the refugees worldwide and collaborate with the organisations that support them.
We play our social part by conveying
a message of harmony:
Harmony within the orchestra; our members are all highly skilled professional musicians based in London, who come from all over the world and play together, united in a common sound.
Harmony with the communities we collaborate with; usually people who suffer from social isolation whether it is due to war, exile, ageing, homelessness or illness.
Harmony with the public; our concerts have a sense of conviviality, inspire our audiences and create a unique experience
"I really enjoyed the concert last night and you guys are amazing.
I can listen to your music everyday."
A member of the refugee choir at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants
"We would like to thank you and the World Harmony Orchestra very much for playing at the Islington Holocaust Memorial Day event.The music composed by Ilse Weber and the poem you set to music were incredibly moving and the performance was very impressive."
Cllr Una O'Halloran, Mayor of Islington
"This experience was strong, rich and full of humanity. I keep in my heart the faces of those men and their glances, the five of you listening to the misery of this world and ready to act. The moment when everybody started to sing and dance will remain in my heart always. For one second we forgot that we were in a camp. It was wonderful."
Virginie Robilliard, international violinist
"Huge moment of sharing between inhabitants of Grande-Synthe, refugees,
the WHO musicians and Le Recho!"
Damien Careme, Mayor of Grande-Synthe
"I found the music and the readings very moving and a reminder, as if one needed a reminder, of the devastation of war and "man's inhumanity to man."
An admirer and supporter who attended our concert "Soldiers of Peace"