VIRTUAL GLOBAL LAUNCH:
Tuesday, 20 June 2023
9:00am EST (New York Time)
Watch the performance: United Nations
UN Global YouTube:
UN WebTV:
On the occasion of World Refugee Day on Tuesday, 20 June 2023, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS), in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, bring you this concert.? World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees and all forcibly displaced people across the globe. It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee to escape conflict, violence or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to support refugees in rebuilding their lives.
Music symbolizes love and peace.? In recognition of World Refugee Day, the music programme will open with music in collaboration with multi-Grammy Award winners Ricky Kej and Stewart Copeland.? It will also feature music performed by Syrian refugee musicians; and will close with the world premiere the UNCMS’ arrangement of “Ayibobo” (Haitian Creole for "Freedom"), composed by electronic musicians Francis Mercier & Nitefreak.? Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UNCMS is dedicated to promoting the UN goals at large - through the universal language of music.?
Opening Message
H.E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Remarks
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Melissa Fleming. UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council, Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director
Featuring MUSIC COMPOSED BY
Music composed by Multi-Grammy Award-winning Musicians Ricky Kej (National UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in India) & Stewart Copeland
"Ayibobo" (Haitian Creole for "Freedom") composed by electronic musicians Francis Mercier & Nitefreak
PROGRAMME
RICKY KEJ (1981 - ) & STEWART COPELAND (1952 - ) "Our Home" (Arranged by: Ricky Kej & Vanil Veigas.? Orchestral arrangement: Srikant Krishna)
Performed by: Ricky Kej, National UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in India (Keyboards)
Abi K. Safa (Vocals) (Afghan refugee living in India)
Anjana Padmanabhan (Indian Vocals)
UN Chamber Music Society: Brenda Vongova (Artistic Director & Piano), Hana Mundiya (Violin), Elaine He (Violin), Noémie Chemali (Viola), Eliana Razzino Yang (Cello)
Produced by: Ricky Kej, Vanil Veigas
“Aatini Nay” (Lyrics from Gebran Khalil Gebran, Composed by Nagib Hankache) | (arr. A Bu for the UN Chamber Music Society) | Courtesy of “Voix de l’Orient” (A.Chahine & Fils)
Meer Mahmoud (Guitar / Syrian Refugee Musician)
Hana Mundiya (Violin), Noémie Chemali (Viola),?May Endy (Cello), Brenda Vongova (Piano)
Edward Bilous (Audio Production), Marco Sabatini (Mix Engineer)
FRANCIS MERCIER (1988 - ), Nitefreak (1991 - ) Ayibobo (Haitian Creole for "Freedom") (arr. A Bu for the UN Chamber Music Society)
Lenny Auguste (Singer and Lyricist)
UN Chamber Music Society: Brenda Vongova (Artistic Director & Piano), Tristan Siegel (Violin), Naoko Nakajima (Violin), James Kang (Viola), Elena Ariza (Cello)
Mickey Alexander (Mix Engineer/Mastering Engineer/Co-Producer), James Wu (Recording Engineer)
SPECIAL THANKS
UN Department of Global Communications
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Amin Helou
Artwork of Poster:
“Poh,” 2023.
By Akshita Gandhi
A photograph of Mumbai’s Horniman circle printed on canvas was painted over with acrylics, resin, gold foil and crystals creating several layers to the piece.
“This piece signifies the love, longing and loss, separation and union between families their countries. Refugees are suffering a plight that is unfathomable as painful as it maybe, it teaches us the lesson of letting go and believing that life comes around in full circle and after winter there will always be spring. This piece symbolises faith through trying times knowing that only the bravest hearts will be victorious. Full of hope, this piece is a reminder that the storm will pass and rainbow will soon appear.”
KlavierHaus
Sujatri Reisinger
James Wu, Recording Engineer
Lawrence Lui
Dylan Louie, Cameraman for “Aatini Nay”
Video Editing
Rebecca Dixuan Bai, Video Editor
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