Young Cambodian Women Find Their Voice Through Music

August 24, 2021: Cambodia was once home to a vibrant art and music scene, but under the Khmer Rouge regime its rich artistic culture was destroyed. During the 1970’s, an estimated 90% of musicians, classical dancers, and artists were killed or disappeared. Any music, art, or literature that didn’t comply with the views of the regime or their leader was banned, erasing artistic expression across the country. 

Cambodia’s arts scene has re-emerged with the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, at its center. But it has been difficult to fully revive music and the arts, as few artists are left and many can’t earn a living as musicians. 

While Cambodia is working to restore and rebuild the arts, music education remains scarce, underdeveloped, and only accessible to the wealthiest population in Phnom Penh. Consider the experience of Harpswell alumna Oul Salav. “Growing up, I didn’t have a chance to participate in many art or cultural activities, and most Cambodian kids grew up this way. I never really appreciated music because in my community, expressing ourselves through music, dancing, and entertainment is perceived as inappropriate,” said Salav.

Harpswell alumna Keo Yary echoes a similar experience. "I’ve always loved to sing and dance, but never had the money to afford an instrument. Back in my province, you can only hear music from traditional instruments.”

The resurgence of music and arts in Cambodia is largely left to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Cambodia Living Arts, and international funders. One such organization is the Harpswell Foundation, an American NGO working to advance girls’ education in Cambodia. Harpswell supports and fosters its students’ music and arts interests through music lessons and activities. The program was launched with the assistance of former Harpswell Leadership Resident Jocelyn Labombarde, who wanted to provide opportunities for music education for the young women at Harpswell. By doing so, she could encourage these young women to express themselves and develop skills that could help to develop their careers.

Growing Up in a Musical Household and Studying Music

Music has always been a part of Jocelyn’s life. She grew up in a musical household in New Hampshire with parents who studied and performed music. 

“I could probably read sheet music before I could read books,” said Jocelyn, who has over 17 years of experience singing and playing piano. 

Jocelyn went to Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where she majored in neuroscience with a minor in music. While at Rhodes College, Jocelyn befriended two Harpswell alumnae, Chea Bopha and Ly Chanmakara, who were studying at Rhodes for the year through the Harpswell U.S. Fellows program. These women inspired Jocelyn to work with the Harpswell Foundation as a Leadership Resident.

During their time in the U.S., Bopha and Makara were able to listen to and watch Jocelyn play piano. When Jocelyn would play, she noticed their interest in the piano and the happiness they found in her music. While preparing to go to Cambodia for the first time, Jocelyn also learned that opportunities for music education are rare there.

This motivated Jocelyn’s journey to share her passion for music with the young women at the Harpswell Foundation by starting a music program for them. As a Leadership Resident, Jocelyn’s role would include facilitating cultural activities -- and music would be just that.

Preparing to Teach Piano to Young Women at the Harpswell Dormitories in Cambodia

With her background in neuroscience and music, Jocelyn had a unique perspective on the personal and professional benefits of music education. Not only does music education impact emotional intelligence, self-confidence, and social skills, but it can also improve academic performance, language skills, and memory. With this in mind, Jocelyn recognized the valuable role music could play in the lives of these women and forged ahead. 

Prior to her departure in the summer of 2015, Jocelyn took time to study Cambodia’s history, language, and culture. She worked tirelessly to raise awareness around the issue and raise funds for the music program. With the generous support of her community, Jocelyn was able to raise enough money to purchase a piano, which would be the first instrument for these women. 

In addition to funding, an essential part of preparing for her travels was to study Khmer, the national language of Cambodia. 

“Learning the language was critical for gaining respect from potential donors in Cambodia. I think my ability to speak Khmer showed them that I wasn’t just a tourist or young college kid, and demonstrated my serious commitment to Harpswell, these women, and seeing the music program through long-term,” said Jocelyn.

Arriving at the Harpswell Dormitories and Starting Music Lessons

When she arrived at the Harpswell dormitories in May of 2015, the piano was an instant hit. Within days, the program generated interest from numerous students who were eager to learn piano for the first time. 

“After I arrived, I posted an announcement about piano lessons and the spots filled very quickly. Some of the women had never seen or touched a piano before, but they’re so brilliant that it didn’t take much for them to catch on.

”Soon enough, music became the center for social life at the dorm with women gathering to play together, sing with each other, and even perform at events. After completing their studies and chores in the morning, the young Harpswell women would take a break from their studies and play together during the evenings. Even students at the dorm who didn’t play instruments themselves would gather with students who did play so they could sing along and have fun. 

Harpswell alumna Salav distinctly remembers playing with fellow students during celebrations. 

“During celebrations, such as New Year’s, International Women’s Day, and Graduation Day, our sisters (peers) would perform and it would always add joy and happiness to the events. The music program really plays a role in our community to bring people together with love and joy,” said Salav. 

Music also helped the young women learn valuable life skills that they can apply to their academic and professional lives. 

“I learned that once you face a problem, you must persevere. Everything in life is the same as music. You must practice and persevere in order to achieve results,” said Yary. 

After seeing the joy these women experienced as they learned to play piano, Jocelyn continued to look for ways to expand the program. By partnering with a local art school and cultural center, the women were provided 30-minute piano lessons each week, as well as discounted tickets to live performances. Beyond this partnership, Jocelyn was also able to expand Harpswell’s musical repertoire by adding violin lessons and guitar classes in the dorms.

For Harpswell alumna Salav, the opportunity to play the violin and see live concerts is something she’ll always cherish. After seeing a violinist perform live, Salav fell in love with the instrument and was able to learn to play it herself through the Harpswell music program.

“I always watched videos of orchestra performances and imagined what it would be like. Because of this program, I was able to see concerts for myself and play violin,” said Salav. 

During her second year, Harpswell student Kem Tha was able to play guitar for the first time, perform with other students, and discover what it means to apply herself to learn an instrument.

“Since I came to Harpswell, I started to learn guitar during my second year. Although at first my fingertips hurt so much, I learned how to persevere and play basic chords, which is something I never thought I could do. My first memory of playing together with my sisters is during International Women’s Day and at the farewell party,” said Tha.

The Profound Impact of Music Lessons on the Harpswell Women

Very quickly, Jocelyn realized the impact that the music program had on these young women. Not only did it provide these women with a creative outlet and emotional support, it also allowed them to build critical skills they could apply to their professional life. Students reported that they have better concentration for their studies and greater interest in all kinds of music genres.

“Early on, I discovered the hole in these women’s lives that these music lessons were filling. The instruments and music lessons gave these women a means to express themselves, nurture their interests, and meet their emotional needs. These women are under a great deal of pressure, and music provides them a necessary and productive outlet.” said Jocelyn.

For Tha, the music program creates a sense of community among the women in the dorms.

“Music has taught me a lot, especially now during the pandemic. Since we can’t go anywhere or do anything, I find that the more I play music, the more stress I release. Music is a way for us to play together, learn, sing along, and have fun,” said Tha.

Yary, an older sister in the dorms, has seen the ways music has brought her younger sisters together and given them an outlet for expressing themselves.

“Music really helps us to release at times when we aren’t happy. It helps to bring people together and make them learn basic skills like how to be patient, remember notes, and persevere. Especially when I see my young sisters grow through music, I feel so proud and happy for them,” said Yary.

When asked about her experience with the music program, Salav recalls her growing appreciation and interest in music.

“This program has allowed me to appreciate music and welcome music into my life. Violin class started it all. I’m very grateful to receive music education because the violin helps me focus on the moment and forget my troubles,” said Salav.