The way we experience music can isolate or connect us.
© Joyce McGreevy (Public art in Evanston, IL by Jeff Zimmerman)

Harmonious Ways to Connect Across Cultures

Thanks to streaming technology, it’s easy to take music along when traveling the world. Headphones help shorten long flights, but it’s when we remove the headphones that we discover music’s true power. Mixing music with our itinerary and social interactions elevates travel experiences to whole new levels.

Oh I see: To connect across cultures, use a language we all understand—music. Here are suggestions for traveling the world musically.

Show Up and Sing!

I arrived in Montréal not knowing a soul. The next day, hundreds of my new best friends and I performed live in concert across Canada.

How did this opportunity to meet local music lovers come about?  Not by auditions—there weren’t any.

I simply showed up for Choir! Choir! Choir!, a Canadian singing group led by Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman.  “DaBu,” as they are affectionately known, travel the world hosting community choir performances.

“DaBu’s” approach is non-traditional. Just show up and they’ll teach you
an original arrangement to a song you love.
@ 2019 Choir! Choir! Choir!

In Montréal, we paid tribute to native son Leonard Cohen, live-streaming our performance of “Hallelujah” with choirs in Toronto, Vancouver, and Kingston.

To sing, sing, sing with Choir! Choir! Choir!, catch their world tour. They’ll be all over the U.S. starting this week. It’s a wonderful way to meet your neighbors, from around the corner or around the world.

See Choir! Choir! Choir!  here.

Attend High Caliber Artistic Concerts—Free

From LosAngeles to London, excellent free concert series abound. In Chicago, I found a series so sublime—the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts—that you should probably just book your flight now. Photogenic architecture and free admission make this a travel trifecta.

Mark Riggleman is Executive Director of the International Music Foundation, which
produces a highly popular Chicago concert series.
© Photo courtesy of the Riggleman family

“This an opportunity to hear rising talent from all over the country and around the world,” says Mark. “Our artists are all within five years of getting a degree and all are at the top of their game.”

Vetting is rigorous and performance standards are high. This is no mere recital of well-worn classical hits.

At the concert I attended, the standing ovation was rapturous for saxophonist Hyoung-Ryoul Kim and pianist Shin-Young Park. The South Korean artists had sent a thrill through the packed house with a program of contemporary works.

Shin-Young Park and Hyoung-Ryoul Kim wowed the audience in Chicago.
© Joyce McGreevy

The venue, Chicago’s Cultural Center, combines incredible acoustics with turn-of-the-century splendor. Mosaic-embellished stairs lead up to Preston Bradley Hall, where the audience convenes under an architectural wonder, the world’s largest Tiffany dome.

At Chicago’s Cultural Center, admission is free, but the music is pure gold.
© Joyce McGreevy

The series runs year-round, Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:00 pm. Says Mark,  “It’s a short format, comfortable for people who work downtown and take a lunch hour. People in town visiting can come to the concert and go to lunch afterward.” (Tip: Meet local concert-goers at Toni Patisserie & Café.)

Reserve ahead, as seats fill quickly. Start here.

Can’t make it? Catch live radio broadcasts, watch the WFMT Facebook livestream, and subscribe to the podcast here.

Uncover Musical Secrets—in 440 Cities

One evening in London, Rafe Offer invited friends round to his flat for a low-key musical gathering. They sat on the floor listening to live music by Rafe’s friend Dave. Over time, such gatherings evolved into Sofar Sounds, a global music community that meets in unique and welcoming spaces.

To keep gigs intimate, tickets operate on a low-price lottery system.
© Joyce McGreevy

An element of surprise adds to the magic. The exact address of the venue is not revealed until the day before the gig. The three musical acts remain a mystery right up until the moment of performance.

Afterwards, it’s all about conversation and community building as artists and audiences mingle.

To get closer to music at home and abroad, visit SofarSounds.

Connecting across cultures, Simon Denizart of Montréal and Kid Be Kid
of Berlin duet on keyboard.
© Joyce McGreevy

Ask, Don’t “App”

Many travelers use music-recognition apps to identify world music they overhear in public, such as on café sound systems. Apps like Shazam and SoundHound operate as audio search engines, matching a music sample to its source. It’s one way to collect a playlist for your travel memories.

Better yet, ask the friendly local who’s sitting right next to you, humming along. It’s a natural icebreaker. Keep a pen and notepad handy to circumvent any language barriers.

Be Your Own Roadie!

Do you play an instrument? Consider it your musical passport and carry it everywhere. In many countries, socializing includes sharing music. Having songs at the ready lets you contribute and connect.

Just ask Rick Chelew. “For meeting people and making new friends, my Voyage Air folding guitar is even better than a cute dog. When I’m traveling solo,  it’s a great conversation-starter at parks, in pubs and outdoor cafes, even airports and bus stations.”

The guitar folds & conversations unfold: Californian Rick Chelew travels the world musically.
© Joyce McGreevy

All Together Now!

When you travel the world musically, connecting across cultures becomes likelier, because you’re literally signaling attunement.  What better way to make the world a more harmonious place?

Can’t pack it? Find it! Public pianos are turning up in cities worldwide.
© Joyce McGreevy

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