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Herman Makarenko gathers colleagues of "UNESCO Artists for Peace" for "Musical gratitude to medical workers"

Held under the patronage of UNESCO, with the support of WHO and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the world premiere of the international project Musical gratitude to medical workers "In the Name of Life", took place on September 16 at the National Opera of Ukraine. This event brought together Goodwill Ambassadors, UNESCO Artists for Peace, composers and artists from France, Turkey, Ukraine, China, Japan and other countries.

Our UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko is the author of this project, which is part of the global "ResiliArt" movement launched by UNESCO.
We strive to express gratitude to medical workers all over the world for their courage and dedication, to emphasize solidarity in overcoming the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

UNESCO Artist for Peace, Herman Makarenko
Ukrainian medical workers were invited to attend the concert which featured messages from WHO and UNESCO. On behalf of the UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko stated:
I wish to express UNESCO’s deep gratitude to Mr. Herman Makarenko, the Global Harmony Art and the official representatives of Ukraine, who organized this concert dedicated to all healthcare workers who selflessly continue to protect the vulnerable during this terrible pandemic. In the context of this global health crisis, when proximity is made difficult by social distancing measures, the role of artists and musicians to connect each of us with others through art is more crucial than ever

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, Firmin Edouard Matoko
The WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized:
In these challenging times health workers inspire us every day, so do their commitment to treat patients, protect communities and work collaboratively to stop COVID-19 pandemic. They do this at risk to their own health and often in the face of shortages and protective equipment and supplies. Too many health workers have died or become infected while placing the needs of others above their own. Tonight’s concert reminds us of the creativity, hope and solidarity with it as we work together to overcome the pandemic

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
The intercultural program included two musical pieces from each continents and a combination of online and offline format, which was in line with the challenges associated with COVID-19.

The world premiere of the anthem "The Road of Hope" by French composer Pierre Sebaoun, created for the sculpture of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, French sculptor Hedva Ser, took place at this occasion.

Turkish composer UNESCO Artist for Peace Kudsi Ergüner performed the instrumental part in real-time, which was broadcasted online on a large screen in the concert hall. He was accompanied by the Kyiv Classical Orchestra.

The symbole resided in the musicians performing this composition simultaneously in different countries.

The premiere of the musical piece "Africa forever" by the Ukrainian composer Artem Roshchenko, inspired by the musical folklore of the peoples of Central Africa and pygmies also took place on that day.

The program ended on an optimistic note - with the musical piece called "Amazing Grace", which perfectly conveys the faith in overcoming the pandemic.

The resulting audiovisual product will be made available on open access platforms for medical workers around the world to view.

To conclude this concert, Herman Makarenko stated:
We all together, foreign and Ukrainian artists have proved that we can create exclusive art projects that are interesting to the world. I hope that our initiative will be continued by other artists and we will also move in the direction of creating large-scale international projects, that have social significance for humanity, responding to the challenges of our time.

UNESCO Artist for Peace, Herman Makarenko
Mr Herman Makarenko wished to dedicate this creative gift to the 75th anniversary of our Organization, which unites humanity around the noble ideas of peace, goodness and humanism.
This is not the first creative collaboration of UNESCO Artists for peace from different countries, which received a new impetus during the pandemic. The author of the project, H.Makarenko, underlines that "such a global synergy of musicians and vocalists, a multi-genre musical program, where the folk and modern compositions coexist comfortably along with classics and jazz, will contribute to cultural diversity, disseminate and develop intercultural dialogue, ideas of humanism".

Partners of the event: Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions (GDIP), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, All- Ukrainian Association of Chief Physicians, "ECOHYNTOX" Institute, International Organization for Social Justice.
Source: "UNESCO"