‘Songs
of Windrush’ is a free eight-week programme that delves into the story of the
‘Windrush Generation’ through music and song, with vocal workshops delivered in
schools by Black Voices. Students are rehearsing a new original composition
exclusively created for this project by Ken Burton, a celebrated composer, songwriter
and choirmaster for the multi-Oscar
winning and Grammy winning Marvel film Black Panther.
The programme will culminate with a mass performance featuring all the schools
at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 6 August. This performance will
form part of Carnival Windrush, a free community celebration event to mark the
75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.
On
22 June 1948, HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury docks, bringing more than 800 passengers
from the Caribbean
and marking the starting
point of a wave of Caribbean migration from 1948 to 1971, which became known as
the ‘Windrush Generation’. It is estimated that nearly half
a million men and women from the Caribbean emigrated to the UK during this
period, helping to rebuild the country and contributing toward British culture
and identity.
“Those who migrated on board HMT Empire Windrush, to help rebuild the economy after World War II, have paved the way for today's Black Britons,” said Carol Pemberton MBE, founder of a cappella quintet Black Voices. “I am one of ten children to parents of the Windrush Generation. It is because of their journey that I have been able to travel every continent and perform before royalty and presidents as part of Black Voices. I feel it is profoundly important to collaborate with the National Memorial Arboretum and introduce hundreds of school pupils from across the Midlands to the dreams, ambition, and resilience of the Windrush pioneers.”
“Sharing
incredible stories of service and sacrifice has always been at the heart of the
Arboretum’s learning activities, and through our
partnership with Black Voices we are engaging
students with inspirational
and
moving stories from
the Windrush generation in their own
classrooms in a really creative and dynamic way”,
explains Rachel Smith, Head of Participation and Learning at the National
Memorial Arboretum. “We can’t wait for
the schools to come together at Carnival Windrush
here at the Arboretum and perform their brand-new song in celebration
of
the lasting legacy of the Windrush generation.”
As associate partner of the National Memorial Arboretum, Black Voices’ partnership with the Nation’s year-round place to Remember extends beyond the Windrush commemorations. Earlier this year, Black Voices performed at the dedication of a new ‘Trees of Life Glade’ at the Arboretum, a living tribute to those who served the country throughout the pandemic, and to remember all those who died as a result of COVID-19 in the UK. They will also be invited to perform at several other upcoming events and services.
“Black Voices
are humbled to become associate partners at the National Memorial Arboretum,”
said Carol Pemberton MBE. “Every culture and community deserves
space to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost. Music has a unique
role in remembrance through its ability to connect people to themselves and to
others. We hope this partnership will support the Arboretum's commitment to
being an open and inclusive environment, freely open to all.”
Black Voices are also involved in ‘Teaching Remembrance’, an interactive cross curricular event at the Arboretum for over a thousand young people in Key Stage 2 in July and will perform at this year’s Summer Proms on 4 and 5 August.
Header Image: (c) Simeon Thaw
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