The Hope Academy of Music

A Long Road to Harmony
It took four years before we could confidently call it an Academy. What began as a handful of scattered lessons has grown into something real, something sustained, and something transformative—for students and teachers alike.

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Our music departments started with potential, and, frankly, chaos. Many of our instructors were childhood friends—raised in Shariya village, part of the same tribe—but hesitant to actually work together. Cooperation didn’t come easily. The students, however, showed relentless dedication. They practiced through family pressure, limited resources, and uncertain futures. It was their commitment that kept us going.

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Turning a Corner
To foster unity, we began hosting monthly recitals. Piano, guitar, saz, daf—every instrument, every voice, gathered on one stage with one shared goal. At first, the students showed up. The staff? Less so. Appointments, interviews, consulate visits—anything but the recital. Still, something shifted in early 2022. The excuses stopped. One of our staff members said it clearly: “I’m ready to build an Academy.” And this time, the words meant something.

 

What the Academy Looks Like Today
Since that turning point, the Academy has become one of the liveliest corners of The Hope Centre. Our musicians barely go home. Every spare minute is spent rehearsing, mentoring, experimenting, and simply being present with each other.

 

We now offer instruction in:

• Piano

• Guitar

• Traditional instruments like saz and daf

• Vocal training

• Music theory and composition

 

Workshops, jam sessions with visiting musicians, and seasonal recitals have become regular highlights. The entire program is grounded in trauma-informed practice—helping students use music as a means of expression, confidence-building, and emotional recovery.

 

A Community That Shows Up
Our first full recital as an Academy was held the day after the Yezidi New Year—a moment of cultural renewal and celebration. Families came. Students beamed. Something shifted.

And it’s still shifting.

 

Why It Matters
At Springs of Hope, we hold fast to a simple truth: creativity can rebuild what war and loss have tried to erase. Music offers identity. It offers freedom. It offers belonging.

Proverbs 31:8 calls us to speak for those who have no voice. Here, at the Academy, we offer something more: the chance to help students discover and raise their own.