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It's wonderful to play music with people from other cultures.
Orchestra Partout has been playing for a year and a half now.
We perform often.
The musicians are constantly changing. When people get a residency permit, they move out.
Others don't get a permit and are deported.
That's problematic of course because we don't have continuity.
But we have 8 permanent members.
I personally think it's a really good initiative.
In centres for asylum seekers...
one of the biggest problems for everyone at first is language.
It's the biggest obstacle. It's like the Tower of Babel...
in asylum centres, but everyone understands music.
If it's a swinging rhythm, you can feel it, no matter what language you speak.
If it's an extremely sad love song...
people don't need to understand it to get it. It's very direct.
It's very easy to communicate with music.
It's nice to have a moment in the week when there aren't any barriers to communication.
There are very talented musicians in asylum centres.
But that talent is often hidden because no one visits the centres, and the asylum-seekers don't go outside.
I want people outside to hear this. That's why...
I'm "using" these people to exhibit their unique cultures here in the Netherlands.
I hope it also helps these asylum-seekers feel better.
They can see for themselves that what they do...
their talent and their culture are valued by the Dutch.