Jordan Croucher

The Kesztyűgyár Community Centre is located in the eighth district of Budapest, and is part of the Hungarian capital’s efforts to improve living conditions in the neighbourhood. Opened in August 2008, the Centre offers various classes and counselling to youth, and is host to several organizations, such as the Roma Youth Association and the Drug Prevention Association.

My name is Jordan Croucher, a singer/songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I am very honoured to be part of the State visit to Europe with Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond. When I first received the invitation to come, I didn’t quite understand what I had done to deserve this honour. But after today, I know exactly why Her Excellency chose me for this trip. The connection that I made today makes me realize why I am pursuing my career in singing.

Our first stop is in Budapest, Hungary, where the days have been filled with historic and inspiring events. And today was another special day, when I had the opportunity to accompany Her Excellency to Mátyus Square and the Kesztyűgyár Community Centre. Upon entering the Centre, Her Excellency was greeted by a musical performance and dance by the Roma children of this community. Since the trip started, I’ve been having a hard time adjusting to the busy schedule, but after this performance, I feel energized and uplifted. It was a beautiful sight. Accompanying Her Excellency has allowed me to see her interact with people from around the world, and when she began to dance and connect with these children, it touched my heart.

I was given a chance to present my album, No Dress Code, to one of the young performers, and was then asked by one of the counsellors to perform. Her Excellency suggested that I sing a song close to my heart, so I chose „Hello”. Afterwards, the Governor General recited some of the lyrics of the song back to the children-„Hello, hello, hello my love”-and a child in the audience quickly responded by repeating the same line back. It was a beautiful moment for me, and I was honoured by both the support of Her Excellency and the reaction from the children. I was so touched by their energy and musical ability, that it made me feel privileged to be there; it was a musical moment for me by the way they responded to my music.

After the performance, the children left the room, as we were about to participate in a dialogue, but before we got a chance to start, two young Roma girls came back and asked me to sign an autograph. Before I finished signing the second girl’s hand, the rest of the children had started to come back into the room for autographs. This moment made me feel the power of music and the effect it can have on the world. This was an unexpected experience for me and it has been a highlight of the trip so far. This was my first musical performance abroad, and it will always be a great memory for me. The energy of the children reminded me of my community and the energy that the kids have there. Today was a special day for me, and it demonstrated to me the power and connection between people, culture and music.

 Jordan Croucher / CitizenVoices