Refugee Fundraising Carol

Our Christmas Benefit Single in aid of the Refugee council is out! Sleep, Jesus, Sleep (Spy, Isuse, Spy) is my arrangement of the stunningly beautiful Ukrainian lullaby-style carol but with a twist... (Listen HERE) Performers Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir (singing in English) and Ukrainian soprano Inna Husieva (singing in Ukrainian) are joined by Afghan tabla player Sulaiman Haqpana whose beautifully rocking thal-in-3 moves the music along. All royalties from label Signum Records and me will go to this page's wonderful beneficiary: the Refugee Council. Whilst Ukrainian refugees have been in the forefront of our minds, thousands of Afghan families, who were airlifted out of Taliban-occupied Kabul in 2021, are still languishing one family to a room, in hotels and other temporary accommodation.

Very excitingly, there will be over 40 live performances of Sleep, Jesus, Sleep (in a more conventional choral arrangement!) all over the UK, and in Belfast and Philadephia (look HERE for a performance near you!). Again, all proceeds come to this page and the Refugee Council. If you'd like to perform it in the lead up to Christmas or during Epiphany, please contact Roxanna (via Facebook or Twitter) to see a score - SATB or unison, with piano or organ.

I'm so proud that The Refugee Council are partnering me in this fundraiser. Their nationwide reach is enormous and all-encompassing, helping refugees of many nationalities to create a stable new life here in the UK.

I'm the daughter of a refugee - my father came here in 1954 with just an overnight bag. I will never forget the incredible generosity of the people who helped him to build a life here. Please stream/download our track and/or perform the carol at your Christmas services and help others to thrive in the safe haven of our country.

Many thanks - warmest wishes,

Roxanna Panufnik