UN Chamber Music Society: Virtual Concert in Celebration of World Refugee Day
Jun 20, 2023
UN WebTV; UN Global YouTube
VIRTUAL CONCERT IN CELEBRATION OF
WORLD REFUGEE DAY
VIRTUAL GLOBAL LAUNCH:
Tuesday, 20 June 2023
9:00am EST (New York Time)
WATCH THE PERFORMANCE: UNITED NATIONS
UN Global YouTube: https://youtu.be/2xMccLicZ3k
UN WebTV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/
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
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