For many Filipinos, a love of singing and music is second nature. Deeply ingrained in the culture, it serves as a vital medium for community bonding, courtship, religious praise, emotional expression, and many other social facets. 

It is also an essential way to cope with life far from home. Every Sunday, scores of Filipino migrant domestic workers (MDWs) gather on the streets and walkways of Central and Admiralty, meeting up with friends and loved ones. They share a meal, exchange news, engage in hobbies, and of course, sing. Armed with karaoke machines and microphones, you can hear them belt out hits from Mariah Carey to Air Supply, alongside Pinoy anthems from Aegis and Eraserheads. Some are more in key than others, but that matters little – the intention is not to outsing each other, but rather to bond and to decompress.

It was this same principle that inspired Jane Engelmann to found Unsung Heroes, a choir comprised of migrant women in Hong Kong. After all, a choir succeeds through the unified sound of harmony – not by outsinging one another. Jane’s vision was to recognise and honour the daily sacrifices these women make and give them a chance to “find their voice” by joining together to share their stories through the power of song.

Many of these women are mothers who leave their own children behind to care for other people’s families. As a single parent myself, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the helpers who supported me during difficult times 

– Jane Engelmann, founder of Unsung Heroes

“The piano became my lifeline through some traumatic years. My father was a BAFTA-winning BBC producer and director who created incredible films about music and orchestras, but sadly, he died when he was just 46 years old. I still feel connected to him through music, music that he wrote and music we composed together. That connection, along with my love for creative expression, has shaped everything I do and continues to inspire projects like Unsung Heroes,” shares Jane, a long-time Hong Kong resident and a performing arts teacher at Australian International School.

First assembled in 2014, the choir got off to an inauspicious start, with only six members participating in the first few rehearsals. In less than a year, however, Unsung Heroes had transformed into a chorus of more than 70. “Many of these women are mothers who leave their own children behind to care for other people’s families. As a single parent myself, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the helpers who supported me during difficult times,” says Jane. “I was inspired by the incredible sacrifices made by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. I wrote a song called “I Wish I Could Kiss You Goodnight” as a tribute to them: women who were putting other people’s children to bed instead of their own,” she shares.

In Hong Kong, approximately 98.5% of migrant domestic workers are women, which translates to a lot of mothers, grandmothers, and daughters living far away from their homes and loved ones. Aside from physical distance, sadness and loneliness are often compounded by the guilt of missing important milestones – birthdays, graduations, weddings. Against a backdrop of long working hours, limited privacy, and little time to unwind, the camaraderie and purpose of community groups and initiatives like Unsung Heroes become all the more crucial.

“At first, many of the women were shy and nervous, but over time they grew in confidence and began performing publicly,” says Jane. “Some of the highlights include singing at Picnic in the Park, community projects, Pink Dot Day, TED talk, and being featured in the documentary The Helper, which brought international attention to their stories. We have also performed at a lot of major events in Hong Kong, and every time I see their pride and joy on stage, it reminds me why this project matters,” Jane adds.

One such major event is Clockenflap – Hong Kong’s largest international arts and music festival. Founded and organised by Jay Forster, Mike Hill, and Justin Sweeting since 2008 (except 2019-2022 due to the pandemic), the festival embodies the city’s core spirit: resilience and diversity, creativity and inclusivity. 

In keeping with these values, this year’s festival saw the debut of Minimax, a kinetic theatrical experience conceived by Jay and Director Benjamin Smith. Untethered from a static, traditional stage, Minimax is mobile and responsive to its environment. For its 2025 launch, Minimax: The Planets united a diverse cast of musicians, artists, dancers, and performers, including Unsung Heroes.

“The spirit of Minimax: The Planets is to merge the community with the commercial, delivering the scope and [professionalism] that commercial work affords while endeavouring to showcase the talents of the underground,” shares Ben. 

“Our collaboration with the Unsung Heroes choir wills to uplift voices that often get overlooked, showcasing these talented women and highlighting the fact that ART BELONGS TO EVERYONE, not just the select few who are deemed ‘the best’. This sentiment runs through the heart of the project, inspired by [English composer of Planets, Gustav] Holst himself, who held the fervent view that: if art wasn’t serving the everyday folk, then it had lost its purpose.”

Performing [at Clockenflap] has been a dream come true. I am so glad I was able to join. Thank you to all our choirmates; everyone was so warm and welcoming, even to newbies like me. And a big thank you to Jane for leading us, for bringing us all together. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience 

– Nenith L., member of Unsung Heroes

Meeting for their first rehearsal with Jane in late October, Unsung Heroes faced a daunting task: they had barely a month to prepare for Clockenflap. Coordinating the schedules of 30+ domestic workers for rehearsals was a formidable challenge, let alone ensuring their availability for the entire three-day festival. Some MDWs are not allowed out in the evenings or on Saturdays, and even on their days off on Sundays, they tend to have limited availability. Luckily, the members of Unsung Heroes were fortunate to have understanding and supportive employers, who believed in their talents and wanted them to shine in the spotlight that so rarely shines in their direction.

“I have a Diploma in Music. I studied piano and vocals, and worked as a music teacher for a total of 20 years in the Philippines and abroad. It is a long story why I am currently a MDW here in Hong Kong, but I am thankful to my employers for being encouraging and supportive, as they know my background,” shares CherTine (not her real name), one of the Unsung Heroes performers.  “Rehearsals were a little challenging as most of us are not used to the time signature, but I think in the end we all had fun and gave it our all,” she adds with a smile.

“Performing [at Clockenflap] has been a dream come true. I am so glad I was able to join. Thank you to all our choirmates; everyone was so warm and welcoming, even to newbies like me. And a big thank you to Jane for leading us, for bringing us all together. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Nenith L., another member of the choir.

Reflecting on their journey to Clockenflap, Jane shares, “[This performance] is a chance to show that they are so much more than domestic workers. The message they want to share is about empowerment, resilience, and gratitude. They want the audience to see their humanity, hear their voices, and understand the sacrifices they make for their families. Through music, they hope to spread hope and celebrate the strength of migrant women,” Jane says.

On performance day, under the glittering skyline of Hong Kong, the Unsung Heroes pour their hearts and emotions out into the world. Every sacrifice and joy – their collective longing and love – can be heard and felt, intertwined with the ethereal movement of a solo dancer. For the audience, it is truly a privilege to witness firsthand how art moves one’s soul, regardless of who you are.