Concert for Peace at Brazilian Pavillion

A total of 25 musicians from Brazil, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Iran gathered for the “Concert for Peace,” held on October 5 at the Brazil Pavilion of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, operated by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Among the participants are young people from countries currently at war and those who have lost family members to conflict. Representing Brazil are members of the Recife-based social project “Orquestra Criança Cidadã” (OCC), founded in 2006 by Judge João José Rocha Targino. 

It was a rare and precious experience to witness a concert with such an incredible group of performers. The one-hour program, filled with a rich variety of pieces, passed quickly. The heartfelt performances conveyed each musician’s deep wish for peace and left the audience warmly moved.

The project provides music education and medical support to about 450 disadvantaged youths aged 6 to 21. In 2010, the United Nations recognized the orchestra as a best-practice example for social inclusion, and in 2015, it became part of the UNESCO Associated Schools network. Before performing at the Expo, the musicians gave concerts in South Korea on September 30 and in Hiroshima on October 4, and they are scheduled to perform at the Vatican on October 8.