This behind the scene footage offers a glimpse into my 2022 documentary honoring refugees. While the full films remains exclusive to the momentous event, I’m privileged to share this excerpt. We gathered within the prestigious UN headquarters, normally closed to the public with only ambassadors and dignitaries presented. There, centered amidst the grand entrance hall, stood the breathtaking Steinway model, the concert grand. As I tickled the first crystalline notes, the piano seemed to come alive, its bold resonant sound magnified by the soaring architecture.
No longer the cold wooden strings, but now a living and breathing ambassador conveying narratives of hope and love. We artists believe in music’s unspoken power to heal, connect, and inspire. Through melodic metaphors, Steinway conveyed the refugees’ poignant journeys more profoundly than any spoken word could achieve. Even the assembled delegates deeply moved, bonded through the universal language. Opportunities like this reinforce my conviction to keep engaging in worldwide humanitarian efforts.
And I can think of no better partner than the Steinway, an icon embedded in many of history’s most iconic moments from grand concert halls to grassroots healing circles Its peerless voice takes center stage and narrate our shared hopes for a more united world.
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UNITAR/NYO/027/2023
New York, 22 February 2023
Dear Mr. Everett Lee,
On behalf of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your support and effort in the Project entitled “Piano Recital Recording Concert for Refugees,” hosted at the United Nations Plaza in New York, NY, USA in June. 11ᵗʰ, 2022. It was a pleasure for us to have you participate as a junior piano soloist, and we thank you for your contribution in support of sustainable development goals No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17.
Your participation and performances highly demonstrated your understanding of diversity, heritage, and accessibility in the sector of culture and society, aligned with many other UNITARs’ core values. We are also glad to learn about your passion and sympathy for helping those in need through your touching musical performance and your speech.
UNITAR is the principal training arm of the UN system. We are devoted to implementing global goals, and position arts and education as the center of it. We believe that by utilizing music as a tool would benefit to world peace, gender equality, economic development, human rights, and quality education. Furthermore, we believe learning music is a right and not a privilege, which could be a pathway to eliminate poverty. We learned that your ultimate goal is to transmit the power of music from Op.119 the school of music, to every corner of the world, and we are delighted to find out that we share mutual beliefs.
Your participation and performance mean a lot to the global community and us. We want to thank you again for your generosity and kindness in participating “Piano Recital Recording Concert for Refugees” project. We hope you can always carry on the missions in the future, and we are looking forward to hearing from you about your new contribution and achievement in the field of sustainable development.
Please accept my highest assurance.
H.E. Mr. Marco A. Suazo,
Head-of-Office
UNITAR New York