NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS UNIS CHOIR TO PERFORM AT HEADQUARTERS MARKING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO INTERNATIONAL AND NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITIES

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS UNIS CHOIR TO PERFORM AT HEADQUARTERS MARKING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO INTERNATIONAL AND NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITIES

The United Nations International School (UNIS) is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a year of activities, including a choral performance for United Nations staff at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 February, at Headquarters.

The Senior Chorus, composed of 52 of the School's Tutorial House (high school) students, will perform a lunch-time concert in the South Secretariat Lobby. The chorus is under the direction of Daniel Stroup, assisted by Maria Araujo, and the programme will include works by Randall Thompson, Anton Bruckner, Fred Paris and Jule Styne.

Satya Nandan, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority and Chairman of the UNIS Board of Trustees, and Joseph J. Blaney, Director of the School, have announced a series of events directed at the constituencies which the School serves: the United Nations and Member States; current parents; alumnae and former students; faculty and staff; and the international diplomatic and business communities.

The celebrations will culminate in a worldwide reunion and other activities in conjunction with United Nations Day in October. The School has launched a special fund-raising campaign to position itself for the next half- century. "As the School marks its golden anniversary, it offers an occasion to reflect on the past and to plan for the future. The UNIS is proud to serve the international and New York City communities. This concert is just one opportunity for us to share this special school with the city", Mr. Blaney said.

The UNIS was founded in 1947 in Lake Success, Long Island, and currently has two campuses with record combined enrolment of 1,500 representing more than 100 countries and 70 native languages. The School, which is financially independent of the United Nations and is chartered, accredited and regulated by the New York State Board of Regents, is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization preparing students for entrance to colleges and universities worldwide. Nearly one half of the students come from the United Nations community and the remainder are from international and New York City families.

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