Friendship Ambassadors Foundation
announces the 2nd annual
Rhythms of One World International Choral Festival in New York City June 26-30, 2013
GREENWICH-BASED FRIENDSHIP AMBASSADORS FOUNDATION (FAF; WWW.FAF.ORG) ANNOUNCES A NEW INTERNATIONAL CHORAL CELEBRATION “THE RHYTHMS OF ONE WORLD 2012.” LAUNCED AT THE AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO LAST MARCH, THE INAUGURAL RHYTHMS OF ONE WORLD FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE FROM JUNE 24 – JULY 1, 2012 IN NEW YORK CITY. THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ARTISTIC EXCHANGE, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH CHORAL SINGING. IT ALSO CELEBRATES THE SIGNING OF THE UN CHARTER "WE THE PEOPLES" (JUNE 26, 1945).
Festival Manager and FAF Director Yin-Chu Jou explains the vision for the Festival as “exploring the role of music as the universal language, promoting intercultural understanding, brotherhood, and peace among nations. The Festival brings together youth and adult choirs from all continents, performing indigenous folkloric singing with choreography, regional sacred, contemporary, and even national pop choral music in this rare choral celebration.”
The 2012 choirs included Kearsney College Choir, the renowned folkloric, mixed race youth choir from South Africa; the Norwegian Girls Choir from Norway; the Signal Hill Alumni Chorus from Trinidad & Tobago; the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir from Australia; the Appalachian Children’s Chorus from the USA; the County Town Singers from Canada; and the Voices International from Luxembourg” Ms. Jou concluded.
Festival Artistic Director and Emmy Award winning composer Gary Fry shares, "The Rhythms of One World is unique in its goal to bring together choirs from around the world in a non-competitive festival that takes place in some of the most exciting venues imaginable. When a choir can celebrate what they do best, join together in a spirit of brotherhood with other choirs to create a global perspective of music-making, and perform in places like the United Nations, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Can you imagine the impact of choirs singing for the world's peacemakers? Music, especially vocal music, is such a wonderful way to make 'instant' friends across national and cultural boundaries. And each new friendship is a step toward a more peaceful, tolerant world. I love the idea that we musicians, so dedicated to adding beauty to life, can help show the way forward. Come be a part of this important– and fun!– process!"
Applications to Choirs interested in participating at our 2013 Rhythms of One World Festival now open. Contact Ms. Yin-Chu Jou at TheRhythmsofOneWorld2013@faf.org for more info.
2012 Festival Media Coverage
Watch the festival at the UN General Assembly Hall via UN TV:
CHECK OUT THE 2012 FESTIVAL'S
THE TRINIDAD GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER
JUNE 30TH UN CONCERT PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Photography by Mr. Dmitry Popov, UN Staff & Volunteer