A Lady who Dedicated Much of Her LIFE to the plight of refugees

Barbara Hendricks  is an African-American operatic soprano and concert singer. Born November 20, 1948 Hendricks has lived in Europe since 1977, and Switzerland . She is a citizen of Sweden following her marriage to a Swedish citizen. 

At the age of 20 Hendricks was born in Stephens, Arkansas. Growing up, she sang and took voice lessons and was often asked to sing solos. She graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and chemistry.

She attended the Aspen Music Festival and School and then attended Juilliard School of Music in New York, where she studied with mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel and participated in master classes led by soprano Maria Callas. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music.

Hendricks was a long-time supporter of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has dedicated much of her life to the plight of refugees . She was named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 1987 and performs special tasks for that organization.

Since 2000, she has been a member of the Council of the Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust (RET). The RET is dedicated to post-primary education of refugee youth all over the world.

In 1991 and 1993 Hendricks gave two concerts in the war-torn formerly Yugoslavian cities of Dubrovnik and Sarajevo. She performed in Sarajevo with the Sarajevo Opera Chorus and jazz musician Sinan Alimanović.

In 2001 she performed at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo at the invitation of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kofi Annan. In May 2002, she performed at the East Timor Independence Day Ceremony.