Next Stage Arts is proud to present Arn Chorn-Pond in Coming Home: A Journey of Healing Through Music on Friday, October 24, at 7:30 PM (doors open 6:45 PM) at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org: $20 advance, $24 at the door, or $10 for the livestream.
Arn Chorn-Pond’s life story is one of resilience, courage, and the transformative power of music. In 1984, he became the first Cambodian child soldier to speak publicly about the atrocities of the Cambodian genocide, addressing 10,000 people at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. He went on to found Children of War, connecting child survivors to share stories of survival and hope.
A survivor of a child labor camp, Arn fled to refugee camps along the Thai border before being adopted and brought to the U.S. In 1998, he returned to Cambodia to establish Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), which has helped preserve and revitalize the nation’s traditional performing arts and inspired a new generation of artists. Today, Arn calls Putney home, continuing to use music as a force for healing and peace.
Arn has been recognized internationally for his humanitarian work, receiving awards including the Reebok Human Rights Award, Amnesty International Human Rights Award, the Kohl Foundation International Peace Prize, and the Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Citizen Award.
This event also honors Next Stage’s 15th anniversary, celebrating founders John Burt and Billy Straus for their vision and dedication to the arts.
Join us for an evening of storytelling, music, and inspiration as Arn Chorn-Pond takes us on a journey of healing, hope, and the enduring power of the arts.
