Music is a universal language and it gives a sense of belonging.
Especially to Htoo Htoo Shar, 12, from Thailand. Shar has been a violin student at Buffalo String Works for the past three years.
Buffalo String Works provides free music lessons to refugee children coming from all over the world and who now call the queen city home.
Buffalo String Works provides instruction on violin, viola and cello.
"Some of them are from all over the world, so I can ask them some of their language," Shar said.
Shar says her favorite song to play is Burmese Water Festival.
"It's my culture's song that's why I like playing it," she said.
Buffalo String Works has nearly 60 students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Buffalo String Works was founded in 2014. The group meets twice a week to practice.
An instrument is given to each student for the year.
The Holiday Concert is on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle.
