Notes

When planning this performance, I wanted to utilize our platform to showcase musical excellence through impactful storytelling, share a glimpse of the resilience of my people, and raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by women in Afghanistan.

Call and Response reflects both a musical idea and a human one: voices reaching out and being heard. Throughout our preparation, the members of Lightridge Chamber have taken intentional steps to understand the Afghan experience and the strength of Afghan women. We were honored to welcome Afghans for a Better Tomorrow, who shared a presentation on Afghan history and art as a form of resistance. Later, through a partnership with the School of Freedom, we met virtually with young Afghan women to listen to their stories firsthand. Under the Taliban rule, girls cannot continue their education after sixth grade.

In these conversations, we discovered that while women around the world may live vastly different lives, our hopes, fears, and dreams often echo one another. We heard their call. You have now heard it too.

Our journey began this August at the Mountain Shepherd Adventure School in Catawba, Virginia, where our ensemble took part in a women’s empowerment camp. We learned survival skills, built trust, and strengthened our bonds — lessons that carried into every rehearsal and this performance. Through this performance, we honor the women of Afghanistan, whose resilience has had a profound impact on us.

We encourage you to continue this dialogue by learning more about Afghanistan, its people, and its global diaspora — beyond what is often shown in the media. Afghanistan is a nation of poets, artists, scholars, and dreamers —a people defined not only by hardship but also by extraordinary resilience, warmth, and creativity.

To deepen your understanding and support ongoing efforts toward education and empowerment, we invite you to explore the work of Afghans for a Better Tomorrow and the School of Freedom — both registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations uplifting Afghan communities and advocating for women’s education.

Our journey leading to today’s performance is our response. Your curiosity, compassion, and continued engagement are part of your response.

Helai Karim Rutan