Čhavorenge Romani children's choir and the Czech Philharmonic perform in the Romani settlements of Slovakia

As part of their Romano drom (Romani Way) project, which has been running for several years, the Čhavorenge Romani children’s choir, led by Ida Kelarová, and the Czech Philharmonic have visited Romani settlements in Slovakia to bring hope, joy and music to those living there. Romano drom is a two-week summer school for the performing arts that has long supported musically talented Romani children and youth. 

The project ended this year with three big concerts in eastern Slovakia’s Hermanovce, Rakúsy and Spišské Tomášovce Romani settlements. Over more than a decade of collaboration, Čhavorenge and the Czech Philharmonic have played and sung in Belfast, Bratislava, London, at the “Pohoda” (“Contentment”) Festival in Slovakia, at the Smetana Festival in Litomyšl, Czech Republic, and more than once in the Dvořák Hall of Prague’s Rudolfinum concert venue.     

The nonprofit organization Miret (the International Initiative for Development for Ethnic Art), which works with Romani people at risk of social exclusion, implements the Romano drom project. In addition to their collaboration and learning, the children and youth who participate receive the opportunity to meet professionals from different fields who are also Romani community members, and the summer school includes specialized workshops focused on cultural traditions, current problems of everyday life, and the history of the Roma.