UN Chamber Music Society Virtual Concert for the Victims of the Earthquake in TÜRKIYE and Syria
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
@9:00am EST (New York time)
WATCH THE PERFORMANCE: UNITED NATIONS
UN WebTV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1nst50kdl
UN Global YouTube: https://youtu.be/-qkY4uo02eE
“I strongly appeal to the international community to show the people of Türkiye and Syria the same kind of support and generosity with which they received, protected and assisted millions of refugees and displaced people in an enormous show of solidarity.”
~ H.E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Sending solidarity and support to Türkiye and Syria and its people in the face of the unprecedented earthquake – one of the biggest natural disasters in our times – on 15 March 2023, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS), will present a virtual concert in support of the relief efforts to provide lifesaving assistance to the victims of the earthquake. One of the worst disasters of this century, the earthquake has impacted millions of people and left thousands homeless following two devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria border on 6 February 2023. A massive humanitarian operation continues, and the UN and its partners are rapidly ramping up efforts to provide life-saving assistance. The United Nations is on the ground, delivering emergency relief items – including shelter, tents, blankets, hygiene kits, and other humanitarian assistance.
Music binds us together in these darkest moments. Through compassion, the musicians of UN Chamber Music Society, under the Artistic Direction of Brenda Vongova – together with the international Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme, Turkish musicians, and Syrian musicians – will perform a concert to support Türkiye and Syria. All donations will be directed to the UN’s Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, to deliver lifesaving assistance to those affected by this massive tragedy. These resources will be used to provide critical aid and relief. Founded in 2016, the UN Chamber Music Society carries out the United Nations’ mission of peace, understanding and cooperation, through the universal language of music.
Support the UN’s Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Humanitarian Crisis Appeal to those affected by the devastating earthquake – by donating to:
https://crisisrelief.un.org/turkiye-syria-earthquake-appeal
MESSAGES
Melissa Fleming
UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
Firas Kayal
Senior Policy Adviser, UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency
Izzet Bari
Management and Administration Unit (IT), Executive Office of the Secretary-General
UN Chamber Music Society
of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council
Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director
FEATURING
Abeer Nehme, International Lebanese Singer
Turkish Musicians
Syrian Musicians
MUSIC PROGRAMME
WISSAM KEYROUZ (1981 – ) We Shall Blossom In Our Debris (arr. Marc Abou Naaoum for the UN Chamber Music Society)
Abeer Nehme (International Lebanese Singer)
Feras Charestan (Syrian Qānun)
Firas Hassan (Syrian Percussionist)
UN Chamber Music Society: Brenda Vongova (Artistic Director & Pianist), Hana Mundiya (Violinist), Naoko Nakajima (Violinist), Florrie Marshall (Violist), Jakob Taylor (Cellist)
Lyrics and composition by AHMET ŞEFIK GÜRMERIÇ (1904 – 1967):
The Song Of Longing (Hasret Türküsü) (arr. Semih Erdoğan for the UN Chamber Music Society)
Abeer Nehme (International Lebanese Singer)
Metin Can Sari (Turkish Clarinetist)
UN Chamber Music Society: Brenda Vongova (Artistic Director & Pianist), Hana Mundiya (Violinist), Naoko Nakajima (Violinist), Florrie Marshall (Violist), Jakob Taylor (Cellist)
SPECIAL THANKS
UN Department of Global Communications
Firas Kayal
Jasper Nolos
Nina Winzen
Poster Image: UN OCHA / Matteo Minasi
11 February, Kahramanmaraş
Klavierhaus
James Wu, Recording Engineer
Abeer Nehme
Ehab Al Shanaa, Audio and Mixing Engineer / The Brain Studio
Lea Maria Haddad, Camerawoman
Kamal Maksoud, Turkish Language Adviser
Rebecca Dixuan Bai, Video Editor
