For Immediate Release
DANIEL PEARL FOUNDATION
LAUNCHES SECOND ANNUAL DANIEL PEARL MUSIC
DAY ON
OCTOBER 10, 2003
Worldwide event calls for Harmony for Humanity
Los Angeles, CA - World-renowned artists and
leaders have joined with the Daniel Pearl Foundation in a call
to musicians of the
world to dedicate concerts to tolerance and humanity on the
Second Annual Daniel Pearl Music Day. The day will be celebrated
on October 10, 2003, what would have been Daniel Pearl's
40th birthday.
Salman Ahmad, Yefim Bronfman, Ida Haendel, Herbie Hancock,
Sir Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Zubin Mehta, Mark O’Connor,
Itzhak Perlman, Prof. A.J. Racy, Simon Shaheen, Ravi Shankar,
Barbra Streisand, and John Williams comprise the Honorary Committee
of this global event to embrace dozens of countries and hundreds
of musicians in a united stand for harmony and friendship.
Musicians, performers, DJs and anyone who wishes
to dedicate a performance with a message of tolerance, understanding
and
global harmony are encouraged to join this global concert. Participants
are invited to fill out the registration form on the Foundation's
website: www.danielpearl.org,
or send an e-mail to: [email protected]. Registration
is free.
The event is scheduled for Friday, October
10. However, concerts
from October 7 through October 19 can be included. More
than 100 concerts
were held in 18 countries during last year’s inaugural Daniel Pearl
Music Day.
Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped and murdered
in Pakistan in February 2002 while researching a story, was
also a violinist, fiddler and mandolin player. He joined a band,
orchestra or chamber group in every town in which he lived and
formed connections through his passion for music and friendship.
Shortly after his death, Daniel's family, friends and supporters
formed the Daniel Pearl Foundation to further the ideals that
inspired his life and work, and to spotlight his love of music
to build bridges and create friendships.
"We are thrilled that this year leading
artists from many musical styles and traditions are joining
with us in a
clarion call for asserting the oneness of humanity. Danny's
determination to spread truth, music, and friendship around
the world strengthens our conviction that humanity will triumph
and harmony will prevail,” stated Professor Judea Pearl,
father of Daniel Pearl and president of the Daniel Pearl Foundation. “This
year in particular, music can help us bridge divisions between
cultures. We would like to issue a special invitation to the
Arab and Muslim world to join us in harmony for humanity,” said
Professor Pearl.
"We have a unique opportunity to promote a message of
tolerance and the spirit of peace on Daniel Pearl Music Day,” said
noted jazz musician and composer Herbie Hancock. “I encourage
other musicians around the world to join me in this message
of harmony and understanding through music.”
Seeking to broaden cross-cultural understanding, the Daniel
Pearl Foundation has already confirmed several events and dedicated
performances across the globe. Locations include Toronto, Atlanta,
Los Angeles, Stanford, Jerusalem, Paris, Guadalajara, Bangkok,
New York, New Jersey, Houston, Washington, DC and other cities
around the world.
Throughout the week of October 10, 2002, the
1st annual Daniel Pearl Music Day created a spontaneous outpouring
of support.
The diversity of the first annual Daniel Pearl Music Day participants
was a testament to Danny's own varied musical interests:
concertgoers enjoyed symphonies, string quartets and classical
pianists; bluegrass fiddle players; folk musicians; rock bands;
jazz violinists and ensembles; and many others.
Last year's performances included concerts by the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra,
Itzhak Perlman (Oklahoma City and Kansas City) and Sir Elton
John (Meadowlands Arena, New Jersey) and Pakistani music group
Junoon, Ravi Shankar in Vancouver, the Russian National Folk
Ensemble in Moscow, an Arab-Jewish youth orchestra in Tel Aviv,
Faiz Ali Faiz in Paris, the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and
others made special concerts and dedications around the world.
The Daniel Pearl Music Day Honorary Committee includes:
Salman Ahmad, lead singer for Junoon, the
famous Pakistani rock group;
Yefim Bronfman,
Grammy-winning pianist and featured
in Disney's FANTASIA 2000;
Ida Haendel, world-renowned
classical violinist;
Herbie Hancock,
modern American jazz music icon;
Sir Elton John,
multi-Grammy Award winning composer,
performer;
Yo-Yo Ma, world-renowned
cellist with 14 Grammy awards;
Zubin Mehta, world-renowned
maestro, Music Director for Life
of the Israeli Symphony;
Mark O’Connor,
American violinist, composer and
fiddler;
Itzhak Perlman,
four-time Grammy Award winning classical
violinist;
Professor A.J. Racy,
Ph.D., musicologist, virtuoso performer
and composer of music of the Middle
East;
Simon Shaheen, violinist
and master oud player appeared at
the Grammy Awards with Sting, performing
and arranging violins for live rendition
of "Desert Rose";
Ravi Shankar, legendary
sitar player and composer;
Barbra Streisand,
Emmy, Grammy, Tony, Academy Award
winning singer, composer, actress,
director and producer;
John Williams, acclaimed
American orchestral conductor and
composer of film scores and ceremonial
music.
Note: We kindly ask that no unauthorized fundraising take place
on behalf of the Foundation.
CONTACT:
Seth Jacobson or Robert Wynne, JCI
[email protected]
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