In a country where almost half the population was born abroad, integration is often discussed through policy papers, labour statistics and demographic charts. Yet some of Luxembourg’s most successful integration stories have unfolded far from ministries and boardrooms.
For nearly three decades, Voices International has quietly been doing what many institutions aspire to achieve: bringing people from every corner of the world together and turning diversity into community.
Founded in 1997, Voices International was created with a simple but powerful ambition: to bring people together through the universal language of music. Over nearly three decades, the choir has flourished under the guidance of four successive musical leaders, from its founding team led by Peggy Jenks, to Jean Schumacher, Thomas Raoult, and, since 2018, James Libbey. Today, Voices International has grown into one of Luxembourg’s largest and most multicultural artistic communities, bringing together almost 200 singers from more than 40 nationalities and standing as a remarkable example of integration, friendship, and cultural exchange through music.
The formula is deceptively simple. Every year, people arrive in Luxembourg from all over the world, often knowing no one and sometimes with little or no knowledge of the languages most commonly used in Luxembourg, looking for a way to build a social life beyond the workplace. Many join Voices International for the music, but quickly discover something far more valuable: friendships, support networks and a genuine sense of belonging. Between rehearsals, concerts and social gatherings, connections are forged that help newcomers find their place in their adopted country. Over nearly three decades, thousands of expatriates have passed through the choir’s ranks, many of whom (myself included) have gone on to build successful careers, businesses, families and lasting roots in Luxembourg. For many, Voices International has been far more than a choir; it has been a gateway to integration and an enduring part of their Luxembourg story.
In that sense, Voices International is less a choir than a living illustration of the Luxembourg model: diverse, international and remarkably cohesive.
Its repertoire reflects that same spiri. While English remains a common thread, performances regularly embrace French, German, Luxembourgish, Italian, Spanish and a host of other languages ranging from Hebrew and Latin to Japanese, Chinese, Swahili and Zulu. Even sign language finds its place in selected pieces, ensuring that inclusion is not merely a slogan but part of the performance itself.
This Saturday 13 June, that multicultural energy takes centre stage in the Grand Auditorium of the Philharmonie Luxembourg with Bright Horizons, a concert that promises both musical ambition and symbolic resonance. Accompanied by professional musicians—including strings, piano, bass and guitar—the choir will present a programme spanning genres and cultures, reflecting the diversity of the people who bring it to life.
Recent productions have demonstrated a willingness to go beyond the traditional choral repertoire, incorporating contemporary works and even world premieres, including The Want of Peace, first performed in December 2025. It is an approach that mirrors Luxembourg itself: respectful of tradition, yet constantly evolving.
Beyond the concert hall, Voices International has also built a tradition of giving back to the community. Every winter season, the choir performs Christmas concerts in churches across Luxembourg, bringing festive music to audiences throughout the country. These events are more than seasonal celebrations; they also serve a charitable purpose, with collections and donations supporting local causes and non-profit organisations. It is another reflection of the choir’s ethos: using music not only to connect people across cultures, but also to strengthen the social fabric of the country they now call home.
There is, admittedly, a touch of Luxembourg humour in the whole enterprise. In few other countries could a rehearsal break sound like a United Nations coffee queue, with conversations switching effortlessly between English, French, German, Portuguese and Luxembourgish before everyone returns to singing in perfect harmony.
Perhaps that is precisely the point.
At a time when many societies struggle to transform diversity into cohesion, Voices International offers a reminder that integration is not always engineered from the top down. Sometimes it begins with a shared score, a common rhythm and 200 people discovering that harmony is easier to achieve than one might think.
And in Luxembourg, that may be one of the most valuable performances of all.
Read more articles:
The “Pearl” Of Luxembourg’s Grund
Lux Tour Solidarity 2026: Where Automotive Excellence Meets Philanthropy In Luxembourg
