16 June 2025
Hearts for Gaza Charity Concert: Music in the Service of Humanity
Image: Hearts for Gaza Charity Concert © George Xenakis
On Saturday 7 June 2025, Gumbramorra Hall at the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville (Sydney) hosted the Hearts for Gaza charity concert, a fusion of music and humanitarian advocacy, which raised nearly $10, 000 and will directly feed thousands of families throughout Gaza. The concert featured passionate original music and Arabic song arrangements by Maissa Alameddine, Hala Samek, Pavle Cajic, Maxeem Georges, Chloe Chung, Antonio Anguilar and myself.
Opened by composer and humanitarian leader Chloé Charody, the event aimed to help fund the Hearts for Gaza initiative, which distributes essential aid including food and water directly to families and children in Gaza through four regional teams operating on foot and bicycles, reaching areas inaccessible to larger organizations. It has been operating since October 2023, after I introduced her to my friend Shadi Salem, who is a writer from Gaza. They began co-ordinating aid operations using his family and friends as staff with donations from the Australian public, and it grew from there. One hundred percent of the money raised goes directly to the people that need it, with no admin fees or middle people.
She began her speech with "As the granddaughter of a Jewish Holocaust survivor, I am horrified to witness what is happening in Gaza. It is another genocide. And I will do everything in my power to help people in need." After her speech there was a documentary highlighting the impactful work of Hearts for Gaza, setting a reflective tone for the evening, with many videos and photos of their achievements feeding and clothing thousands of families across Gaza, as well as providing some entertainment for bereaved children, including many orphans.
Syrian-Australian oud player Maxeem Georges and cross-cultural flautist Chloe Chung opened the musical performances with a duet that seamlessly blended maqam/middle eastern scales with Western flute melodies, exemplifying the harmonious fusion of diverse musical traditions.
Following this was the world premiere of my latest work, a cello sonata I'm Bisan from Gaza And I'm Still Alive in three movements; "I'm Bisan", "Remembering Gaza" and "Escape To The South". It was performed stunningly with perfect technique and deep powerful expression by young up-and-coming Palestinian-Australian cellist Antonio Aguilar, accompanied by me on piano. This cellist is definitely one to watch and work with if you can!
Paul Nolan from Sydney Arts Guide describes pianist-composer Pavle Cajic's performance as "penetrating intimacy with plaintive gentle spirals took us beyond the hurt of recent histories. This playing transported our listening across exciting genre-blending style-defying harmonies and stunningly alternating shapes. Pianist Pavle Cajic offered a solo performance characterized by genre-blending harmonies, and emotive expression, transporting listeners beyond the immediate context of the concert."
Subsequently, Cajic joined Gazan percussionist and refugee from Gaza, Palestine, Hala Samak and vocalist Maissa Alameddine, a Lebanese-Australian multi-disciplinary artist and vocalist, in a trio that combined rhythmic complexity with haunting vocals, adding a dynamic vocal dimension to the event. This was a genuine cultural fusion of Tunisian folk songs, classical piano and Gazan rhythms.
The concert culminated in four collaborative ensemble Palestinian and Contemporary popular Arabic/Lebanese songs arranged in an interpretive way by Maissa; "Moukawem", "Yamal Mwel el Hawa", "Rajawi Falastini" and "Rozana" with all seven musicians from the concert. Yama Mwel el Hawa is a song from the Palestinian folklore that has its roots in affirming that Palestinians will never give up their lands - the main chorus is "I would rather daggers cut me then live under occupation". This collective performance encapsulated the evening's spirit of unity, exquisite merging of cultures, and artistic solidarity with Palestine. By the last songs, many in the audience were dancing and the atmosphere was one of hope.
Also sold at the event was Shadi Salem's debut book "Beneath the Gaza Sky" and artwork by artists currently trying to survive in Gaza, which they shared with the world through Instagram, with printing and sales facilitated by Pavle. The event was hosted by artist Nicole Barakat and the Addi Road space was generously given free of charge.
The Hearts for Gaza concert not only showcased the transformative power of music but also reinforced the importance of community-driven initiatives in addressing global humanitarian crises.
Learn more about Hearts for Gaza: https://www.chuffed.org/project/109308-hearts-for-gaza
Follow Hearts for Gaza on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_heartsforgaza_/
Follow the links below to find out more about the artists and their work:
© Australian Music Centre (2025) — Permission must be obtained from the AMC if you wish to reproduce this article either online or in print.
Keyna Wilkins is a pioneering Australian/British composer-musician, radio presenter and human rights advocate. She was one of three finalists for the Australian Art Music Awards for Individual Excellence in 2021 and 2018. She has written over 60 art music works that are performed internationally and published by Wirripang, has been featured on ABC, and writes music for TV, film and theatre. Having released 13 albums of original music, she performs regularly as an innovative soloist, improviser and leader of cutting edge ensembles around the world. Described by Jazz Journal UK as "a powerhouse player", Wilkins has full representation with the Australian Music Centre and has six tunes in the Australian Jazz Realbook.
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