Since 2011 the small Estonian summer town of Pärnu has hosted a festival that continues to develop a reputation as one of the premier summer musical events in Europe.
The Art of Bringing People Together
For eight days this summer, more than 140 children from 21 different El Sistema-based projects all over Europe came together in Madrid, Spain to form the 6th edition of the Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra (SEYO), hosted by the local foundation Acción por la Música
If you believe it, you believe it
In 2006, through an initiative of the Panguipulli City Council, the Panguipulli Municipal Corporation and the Chilean Youth and Children's Orchestra Foundation, the Panguipulli Symphony Orchestra was born, the seed that would give rise to what is now the Vive La Música program.
Peace through Music
In 1999, Jewish conductor Daniel Barenboim and an English scholar from Palestine founded the ‘Divan Orchestra.’ This orchestra includes teenagers from countries in the Middle East such as Israel and Palestine, where the relationship is intense, as well as Syria and Iran.
Taking an intermission
In my second year as a violin student at the Curtis Institute of Music, my right arm started going numb from my elbow to my fingertips on a fairly regular basis. It was sort of like how your limbs feel right before they fall asleep: not full-on pins and needles, but a dull, hot emptiness, like there was no blood to keep that piece of me alive and vibrant.
Crossing cultural barriers through music writing
Music has no language barrier. Despite its different genres, music is the best way to connect people with a diverse background, different culture. This is why we brought together eighteen different individuals from three countries, Sierra Leone, UK and Iceland, and hosted them for one week in the first Music Writing Week ever held in Sierra Leone.
Finding refuge in music
In the spring of 2017, I was looking through my family’s security box for my social security card. I came across a document from 1988 signed by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees; it had my family’s last name on it. Puzzled, I approached my parents. What on earth was my family doing with the UNHCR? “You should probably sit down for this,” said my father.
To bring peace, speak music
Music is an extremely powerful and unifying language. A universal medium speaks to everyone across all borders. It can bring peace in people’s hearts and minds as it overcomes linguistic barriers. Music builds bridges that connect people from different parts of the globe and common appreciation of cultural diversity. It is a great tool to spread messages of peace, tolerance, shared humanity and promote cultural diplomacy, in which I strongly believe.
This is the first blog community dedicated to collecting the most inspiring stories on music diplomacy from all over the world, bringing together experiences and reflections from musicians, scholars, experts, diplomats, activists and journalists working in the field.
Music diplomacy is a particular form of cultural diplomacy. As a universal language that breaks down language barriers and cultural differences, music promotes cooperation, understanding and mutual respect among people, communities and nations thus contributing to a culture of peace.
Music diplomacy is about learning, listening, sharing and connecting.
#musidiplomacy