The House of Good Tones from Srebrenica and the USAID PRO-Future peacebuilding project organized the fourth “Friendship Concert,” held at the Pavarotti Music Center in Mostar.
One of the most inspiring stories from Srebrenica and our country, the House of Good Tones, continued its tour after concerts in Prijedor, Bijeljina, and Niš in Serbia, sending universal messages of trust, understanding, and shared responsibility for a better and brighter future.
In collaboration with Mostar Rock School from Mostar and Čarobna Nota from Niš, children from Srebrenica, Prijedor, Mostar, and Niš performed at the Friendship Concert before a full house, presenting the most beautiful traditional songs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia, classical music, and hits from the domestic and international pop-rock scene.
Executive and Artistic Director of the House of Good Tones, Ismar Porić, said that with the support of the USAID PRO-Future project, implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), regional cooperation has been established among children, youth, and music professionals, through which they not only make music together but also learn about each other, socialize, and exchange experiences.
“Participation in such events gives young people the opportunity to meet, exchange interests and experiences, develop social and individual identities, learn from each other, and collectively shape everyday life through music, art, and culture. They also gain access to quality educational, cultural, and entertainment content, fostering a sense of belonging to the world of universal human values,” said Porić.
The PRO-Future project has been a friend of the Friendship Concert for the third year, providing all participants with access to art and culture, encouraging intercultural dialogue, understanding, and joint cooperation.
“If we follow the folk wisdom that ‘he who sings means no harm,’ I believe we could not have found a better way to connect young people from different communities than through music, nor a better partner than the House of Good Tones. We are especially pleased that all the concerts we have supported so far do not remain isolated events but create lasting connections that will bring new beautiful stories in the future,” said Majda Behrem-Stojanov, director of the PRO-Future project.
The Friendship Concert was also supported by the City of Mostar.
Over the past twelve years, more than 2,000 children and young people have participated in Srebrenica’s most well-known program, the House of Good Tones. More than 150 concerts have been held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and Europe, and the program has received several international awards for its work and engagement.
