Voices Of Freedom
Bravo Niagara’s Voices of Freedom is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and histories through the arts.
V O I C E S O F F R E E D O M
Virtual Premieres
Explore a selection of our virtual premieres below.
“Since 2014, Bravo Niagara has committed itself to fostering intercultural dialogue through the arts. I commend its dedication and hard work in celebrating the diverse voices of our country through musical performances within the Niagara Region.”
— The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
VOICES OF FREEDOM
A Musical Short Film
The Maples Blues Award-winning Blackburn Brothers, descendants of freedom seekers, and special guest Measha Brueggergosman give voice to Niagara’s significant history as a terminus of the Underground Railroad with powerful performances of spirituals and newly commissioned works. Experience the world premieres of the Blackburn Brothers’ Freedom Train and Sister Wilma shot on location in the Voices of Freedom Park (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel BME Church (Niagara Falls).
VOICES OF FREEDOM:
SOUNDS OF HOPE
Menorah
Commissioned by Bravo Niagara!, “Menorah” is a composition by renowned multi-JUNO Award-winning Canadian composer Christos Hatzis. The premiere of "Menorah" features images by Yuri Dojc from Last Folio by Yuri Dojc & Katya Krausova. This stirring composition for violin and piano is performed by Montreal-based violinist Marc Djokic, a young dynamic presence in the violin world, and pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., an internationally renowned interpreter of contemporary music.
VOICES OF FREEDOM
We are the World
In response to COVID-19, Bravo Niagara! launched Amplified, a virtual video series designed to connect our global family of artists and audiences. In 2020, we marked the 35th anniversary of the iconic song “We Are the World,” written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones—a song whose message resonates as strongly today as ever. Our debut Amplified music video featured a powerful rendition of “We Are the World,” with over 150 artists and students recording remotely from their homes during the early months of the pandemic lockdown.
VOICES OF FREEDOM:
SOUNDS OF HOPE
Robi Botos: Romani Experience
JUNO Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer, Robi Botos takes you on a deeply personal journey through the story of his heritage. Born and raised in Budapest prior to bringing his family to Canada, Botos has remained dedicated in his efforts of bringing the often forgotten history of the Roma genocide during the Holocaust to the surface. Through a suite of selections from his acclaimed score from 'A People Uncounted' and the debut of a new piece commissioned by Bravo Niagara!, Botos' glimpse into his heritage with a call for justice for his people will be told through his unmistakable sound that will resonate with all generations.
Voices of Freedom was born out of a desire to give a voice to underrepresented histories and peoples through the arts and foster intercultural dialogue.
Each year, Voices of Freedom amplifies diverse voices through inspiring musical performances enriched with educational outreach initiatives. The inaugural festival in 2015, launched in recognition of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, highlighted Niagara’s significant Black history and was endorsed by the UNESCO Slave Route Project. Since its founding, this unique and powerful initiative has featured unforgettable performances from Measha Brueggergosman, Wycliffe Gordon, Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express, Richard Bona, Molly Johnson, Larnell Lewis, Bakithi Kumalo, Jackie Richardson, Dominique Fils-Aimé, and more.