Commissioned by Music of Remembrance, Stormy Seas is a poignant musical narrative by Iranian-American composer Sahba Aminikia that brings the harrowing experiences of child refugees to the forefront of the concert stage. Inspired by the book Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Eleanor Shakespeare, the work weaves together the true stories of five young people who fled their homes in search of safety. From Ruth escaping Nazi Germany and Phu fleeing war-torn Vietnam to José leaving Cuba, Najeeba escaping Afghanistan, and Mohamed fleeing an orphanage in the Ivory Coast, the piece serves as a timeless testament to the courage required to leave everything behind for a chance at survival.

Musically, Aminikia creates an immersive atmosphere that captures both the peril and the resilience inherent in these journeys. The composition uniquely blends a chamber ensemble with the voices of child actors, who narrate the individual odysseys, grounding the abstract musical textures in the stark reality of youth displacement. By incorporating varied percussion—such as ocean drums and rainsticks—alongside emotive melodic lines, the score evokes the physical and emotional turbulence of the open water. The work aligns seamlessly with Music of Remembrance’s mission, extending the organization's focus from the Holocaust to contemporary human rights issues, ultimately offering a powerful appeal to our shared humanity and the universal right to safety.