Music Builds Bridges Over Global Divides

Chicago Ensemble Connects Cultures Through Shared Melodies

In a world grappling with conflict and humanitarian crises, the transformative power of music is offering solace and understanding. A Chicago-based nonprofit is at the forefront, weaving together diverse musical traditions to foster empathy across borders.

Bridging Grief with Harmony

In early 2025, amidst the somber news of the Israel-Hamas War, a string quartet in a Chicago library performed Shireen Abu Khader’s poignant composition, Lao rahal out (“If My Voice Departs”). The lyrics spoke of enduring legacies and shared suffering, resonating deeply with the audience. Abu Khader, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Canadian musician, found the piece timely, noting its universal human appeal.

This universal emotional connection is the driving force behind Crossing Borders Music. The organization, comprised of Western classical musicians, presents music from marginalized communities worldwide. Their free concerts aim to showcase rich cultural heritage and promote empathy for immigrants and those facing discrimination.

“Often, we find that in the West, refugees and immigrants are defined only by the conflict in their home countries,” says Tom Clowes, a classical cellist and founder of Crossing Borders. “But nobody wants to be defined by the worst things that have happened to them, especially when it’s not even something that they’ve done, but something that’s happened to them.”

—Tom Clowes, Founder of Crossing Borders Music

Crossing Borders Music reached over 10,000 individuals in 2024 through 27 free concerts. Their mission, as described by Clowes, is fulfilled when audience members report broadened worldviews or a sense of cultural affirmation.

From Haiti to the World Stage

The organization’s roots trace back to 2000 when Clowes began teaching cello in Haiti. He developed a deep appreciation for the nation’s rich history and classical music tradition, often overshadowed by negative stereotypes in the U.S. Following the devastating 2010 earthquake, a desire to share Haiti’s beauty and resilience inspired Clowes to create Crossing Borders Music in 2011.

The group’s performances, like Abu Khader’s curated concert Mourning, Refuge, and Unity: String Quartets from the Arab World, feature pieces like Elie Kallab’s Tango al Maboor, which evokes memories of displacement. These events, Abu Khader notes, transport both artists and audiences into a realm of shared humanity.

Amplifying Suppressed Voices

Storytelling has become integral to Crossing Borders’ concerts, enhancing cultural connections. Collaborations with the National Cambodian Heritage Museum highlighted the powerful narratives of Khmer Rouge survivors. When approached, the Rohingya community expressed a desire to preserve their rapidly disappearing musical traditions.

In response, Clowes spent time near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, documenting Rohingya songs and stories. He is now working on arranging this music for Western classical instruments, a project that will debut in 2025 featuring videos of Rohingya musicians sharing their lives and experiences.

Music as a Tool for Empathy

Refugee music is proving to be a powerful medium for fostering understanding globally. In 2024, young artists from conflict zones performed at Carnegie Hall, showcasing remarkable courage. Similarly, the Refugee Orchestra Project offers a platform for refugees and immigrants to share their stories through music.

Clowes emphasizes music’s ability to transcend barriers, allowing listeners to connect emotionally and recognize the artificiality of external differences. Abu Khader encourages her students to focus on connecting with just one person in the audience, aiming to shift perspectives one individual at a time.

Post-concert feedback consistently shows that over 90% of attendees gain new insights, develop a desire to learn more about featured cultures, or feel their own heritage affirmed. Research also indicates that musical engagement helps young refugees cope with adversity, providing a supportive space for emotional expression and social connection.

The impact of this work is evident in success stories like that of Afghan musician Milad Yousefi, who received an Emmy in 2024 for his musical composition. In Ireland, Mohammad Syfkhan, a Kurdish Syrian refugee, captivates audiences with electrified performances of traditional Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkish songs, using his bouzouki to foster empathy for the Kurdish people.

Navigating Identity and Funding Challenges

The creation of Crossing Borders’ musical fusions requires extensive research and practice, often resulting in sounds that reflect a sense of statelessness. Clowes notes that these hybrid forms are sometimes considered outside both Western classical and traditional local categories. Abu Khader describes this evolving music as the sound of “a world in motion.”

Adapting rhythms and melodies that don’t fit standard Western notation presents technical challenges. The most significant hurdle, however, remains funding. Recent cuts to arts grants, including from the National Endowment for the Arts, impact the organization’s ability to expand its reach.

Despite these challenges, Clowes continues to arrange Rohingya music, and Abu Khader seeks new audiences. Their shared goal, as Abu Khader puts it, is connection. Every note carries a story, every lyric becomes a thread between worlds, she says. And when those threads are woven together, something powerful begins to emerge: understanding, healing and the reclamation of dignity — one song at a time.