The Viva Palestina Orchestra (VPO) was born out of a refusal to stay silent in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. Two friends in Austin, TX felt that the only possible response to the ongoing horrors in Gaza was to take community action. In less than 3 months, they organized Austin’s first fundraising festival for Palestine, “Free Falesteen Fest”, ultimately donating over $25k to the cause and creating what became the Viva Palestina Orchestra. 

What began as a single event quickly grew into a movement. The immediate and overwhelming community response revealed a deep need for cultural preservation, as well as a lack of representation for the local Arab community in Austin. From this moment on, VPO took shape as a community-based organization dedicated to Palestinian and Levantine music, storytelling, and cultural resilience. 

As an incorporated TX non-profit VPO is led by its 6 founding board members, a diverse group of artists and musicians who guide the vision and operations of the organization. Alongside the board, nearly 20 local Austin musicians volunteer their time and efforts to bring the orchestra to life. Each musician is invited not only for their talent, but also for their shared commitment to justice and cultural preservation. 

In collaboration with community partners, VPO raised more than $115,000 in relief efforts over the course of its first year. Today, the orchestra continues to be volunteer-led, not for profit, and unwavering in its commitment to fundraising, educating, and advocating for Palestine.