Hilda drumming up support for refugee music initiative

Derry woman Hilda Orr is asking people to consider donating their pre-loved musical instruments to a summer project for refugees based in the city.

Her appeal has been endorsed by Jake Burns, lead singer with the iconic punk band, Stiff Little Fingers.

Since 2015, Hilda has done voluntary work in refugee camps in Greece. A qualified English teacher, she has recently been volunteering with asylum seekers arriving in Derry.

Speaking to Derry Now she explained that asylum seekers from about 15 countries have come to Derry in the last year.
She added: “I had been in contact with some of them in Belfast but then I thought, ‘What can I do in Derry?’ so I started doing voluntary English classes on Monday nights.

“However, over the summer, I thought I would like to do something fun, where people were still learning a little bit of English. So, we started doing guitar lessons and then the group mentioned drums, congas and bongos, so we did some drum circle sessions. Really we are just taking it from there.

“We have had a few guitars donated to us and we have a new guitar teacher, Ben Ewen, starting on July 18, doing a six-week course, up in Foyle Vineyard, in Rosemount Shirt Factory. We are also looking for a more permanent drum teacher.

“We also have a ukulele there and a couple of fiddles, but unfortunately we have no teachers. It would be great if we could get some music teachers to volunteer a little time and we could see what the interest would be in learning other instruments as well. We could maybe organise a couple of music taster sessions over the summer?” said Hilda.

Hilda has also done an art session with the group and wondered if anyone locally would facilitate an art or drama session over the next couple of months “or even a pizza-making class,” she smiled.

In a social media video wholeheartedly supporting Derry’s refugee initiative, singer and guitarist, Jake Burns, spoke about his pride in the impact the music he has been involved in has had.

Jake, who is best known for penning such hits as Alternative Ulster and Suspect Device, emphasised  the importance of helping the new generation of talent to get its chance.

He said: “I have made most of my living playing music. Music is an incredible thing. It can inspire people. It can motivate you.

It can make you smile. It can make you cry. It can make you angry. It stirs up a lot of emotions, a lot of memories of your younger days, where you grew up.

“People who move away from home only have to hear one song from their homeland and they get a lot of comfort and a lot of jot out of that, and sometimes the total opposite. It’s a very powerful thing.

“And, the world, as most people know at the moment, is a pretty messed up place. There are a lot of displaced people. A lot of people, through no fault of their own, can't stay in their own homeland so they move through needs somewhere else. They become refugees around the world and obviously music is a great tie back to that homeland for these displaced people, some of whom have ended up in Ireland.

“And a remarkable woman called Hilda Orr has done a lot of work with refugees both in their homelands and when they get to their new living space. She is now trying to get instruments for these folk to be able to play and to be able to reconnect a little with who they used to be when they lived at home.

“So, I am basically asking on her behalf and on behalf of some other friends, if you happen to have a spare instrument lying about the place and realised you are not going to be, sadly, the next Rory Gallagher or the next Phil Lynott, if you have something lying about the place like that, if you could get in touch with Hilda through Facebook and possibly donate that instrument, that would be fantastic,” said Jake.

He also asked anyone who could be the next Rory Gallagher or Phil Lynott to consider “donating some time to help these folk with some lessons”.

“You could teach some of them to improve their skills or maybe just start them out on the road to writing their own music and putting  their own memories into a song,” said Jake. “Who knows, maybe they’ll be the next Rory Gallagher or Phil Lynott?”

According to the appeal co-organiser, Davy McAuley, Stiff Little Fingers played at one of the early ‘Rock Against Racism’ events in 1978.

He added: “The band has maintained a political stance to oppose racism and hate. They are currently touring and will play a huge homecoming concert in Custom House Square, Belfast in August.

“Stiff Little Fingers has continually supported the Integrated Education sector and have donated thousands of pounds to non denominational education in Northern Ireland.

Those who would like to donate instruments or teach music to refugees can contact Hilda Orr or Davy McAuley via Facebook.
Hilda can also be contacted on: 0044 7835577534.