Harmonizing Cultures: VOENA Choir's Homecoming to Croatia

The internationally acclaimed VOENA children's choir is embarking on a transformative journey, blending the familiar and the foreign as they return to Croatia for a highly anticipated tour. This multicultural, multilingual ensemble, known for its captivating performances around the world, is poised to reconnect with the country that left an indelible mark on its members five years ago.

Bridging Continents, Uniting Voices

Revisiting Cherished Connections

Five years after their initial visit, 10 hand-selected VOENA vocalists, aged 12 to 19, will make a long-awaited return to Croatia. This intrepid group of young professionals will be joined by the world-renowned Italian guitarist, Peppino D'Agostino, whose decades of travel and talent will seamlessly complement the choir's performance. Led by executive director Annabelle Marie, this two-week cultural immersion tour promises to be more than just a series of concerts – it's a chance to rekindle relationships, revisit cherished customs, and reconnect with the warmth and hospitality that left an indelible mark on the choir members in 2019.

Embracing the Familiar, Exploring the Foreign

VOENA's mission to "unite the world with children's voices" has been a guiding beacon since the choir's founding in 1994. The journey to Croatia, however, was serendipitous. Croatian drummer Elvis Katic, who had performed with the Croatian/Bosnian band Rock Ko Fol, was living in Benicia when he heard about VOENA's work. Inspired by the choir's commitment to world music, Katic approached Annabelle Marie and suggested that Croatia would be an ideal destination for the ensemble. His intuition proved correct, as the Croatian audiences were captivated by the choir's multilingual repertoire, including their renditions of Croatian songs.

Fostering Cultural Exchange

In addition to delighting audiences with Croatian songs and American classics, Marie is determined to immerse her students in the rich cultural tapestry of Croatia. One such exchange will feature a youth-to-youth workshop with the Sfida choir, a high school group of klapa singers, who will teach VOENA the a cappella style of klapa. To prepare, Marie has shared videos of the klapa style with her students, and she will also draw upon the expertise of VOENA parents who hail from Croatia, sharing anecdotes and insights to help the students feel a deeper connection to the country.

A Family Affair

The "family feel" that Marie aims to foster will extend beyond the choir members, as siblings and parents join the tour. For longtime VOENA parent, former board member, and now press contact Patrick Vandeweg, this trip is a unique opportunity to combine a family vacation with a performance experience. Vandeweg's two daughters, who have been part of VOENA since the age of 5, are now 12 and 14 and are embarking on a series of monumental firsts – not only will they take the stage to perform on the tour, but they will also be flying internationally for the first time. The anticipation and excitement are palpable, with Vandeweg's younger daughter meticulously counting down the days until their departure.

Cultivating Confidence and Connection

The students selected for this tour are seasoned performers, handpicked by Marie for their discipline, passion, and ability to hold their own part. Introducing a new generation of VOENA families while honoring the longtime members is all part of Marie's broader focus on fostering connection – a mission that has become even more crucial in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Post-COVID, this is important to me," said Marie. "Because so many of these kids during COVID were isolated from each other, isolated from their friends. All the more reason why I feel like I need to promote, family, family, family. People to people, face to face."