Press conference on world youth orchestra

 

“Dialogue and Brotherhood among Diversity” would be the theme of a World Youth Orchestra (WYO) concert at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations tomorrow evening, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Speaking to the press were Aldo Mantovani, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and Maestro Damiano Giuranna, who directs the Orchestra.

Correspondents were told that the Orchestra -- a Good Will Ambassador of UNICEF and recipient of the Silver Plaque of the President of Italy –- seeks to create bonds between young people from rich and poor countries through the universal language of music.  Conducted by Mr. Giuranna, it consists of 40 young musicians from 26 countries.  Tomorrow’s programme combines well-known classics with short melodies drawn from the ancient folk culture of the five continents, with music by Mozart, as well as a theme with six variations by Michele Dall’Ongaro, which is dedicated to UNICEF.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Mantovani said that, through tomorrow’s concert, the Orchestra was going to celebrate the 2005 annual session of the UNICEF Executive Board.  The special event would also be a tribute to the entire United Nations system, as symbolized by the fact that the performance would take place in the General Assembly Hall -– the very heart of the international dialogue, to which the Organization was committed.  His Government was happy to have been able to make that tribute possible at such a crucial junction of the United Nations’ life, when the Organization was preparing to address the issue of reform and make it better equipped to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century.  Italy was proud of its long-standing collaboration with UNICEF and had consistently been one of the top 10 contributors to the Fund.

He added that the vocation of the Orchestra was closely related to the mandate of the United Nations.  Through dialogue, it was possible to promote mutual understanding between various cultures.

Mr. Giuranna emphasized that the discovery of other styles of life and the experience of shared work was a key to creating mutual understanding between diverse groups.  The World Youth Orchestra hoped to give the new generation of musicians a voice in the crucial social and cultural issues and open communication lines between people.  The Orchestra offered its members high-level training and the opportunity to participate in major international musical events, travel the world, form friendships and discover cultures different from their own.

He said that the Orchestra had been formed in September 2001, immediately after the terrible events that destabilized modern society.  For that reason, one of the Orchestra’s first tours was not just a cultural initiative, but also a social and human project.  The Orchestra’s tour this year follows last year’s performances in Israel, the PalestinianTerritory and Jordan.

He added that tomorrow’s concert would also be a salute to the new Executive Director of UNICEF and a celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations.

“Young people’s voices must be heard”, Ms. Salah said, emphasizing the importance of the event to UNICEF.  Dialogue was very important, and only two weeks ago, UNICEF had launched a programme on peacebuilding and conflict resolution with young people.  The UNICEF believed that young people should be the messengers of hope and peace.  Art broke barriers and the voices of the young people of the Orchestra brought hope to other people, particularly to women and children who suffered from discrimination, poverty and the consequences of conflict.  The universal language of music could unite humankind.

Responding to several questions about the Orchestra’s musicians, Mr. Giuranna said that they ranged from 16 to 26 years of age.  They were selected on the basis of their talent, both through auditions and on the recommendation of eminent persons in the field of music, such as the Dean of the JuilliardSchool in New York.  The Orchestra received support from many cultural institutions around the world, including the University of London, the Moscow Conservatory and the University of Berkley, California.  Young people of great talent from “less advantaged” countries were also invited to participate through contacts with local schools and scouting trips.  For example, some musicians had been selected this way in Honduras, Albania and Estonia.

Regarding the gender ratio in the Orchestra, he said that now there were more women than men.  The Orchestra sought to achieve the greatest gender balance possible.  As for the geographical distribution, the Orchestra had many musicians from developing countries.  Practically all major areas were represented.

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