US-based Swara Sonora to give a musical Peace Tour in Indonesia for UNICEFJAKARTA, 22 July, 2009 — Three US-based musicians will kick off their Swara Sonora Trio’s Peace Tour next month in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali and Surabaya to foster intercultural understanding and raise funds for the children of this vast archipelago through UNICEF. Singers Kathryn Mueller (soprano), Nathan Krueger (baritone), and pianist Aryo Wicaksono from Tuscon, Arizona will spend three weeks from 4 to 19 August giving performances in each city, teaching master classes at music schools, meeting young musicians and community members. Swara Sonora will donate some of the performances’ proceeds to help fund UNICEF-supported immunisation programmes which are currently at a critical phase. About half-a-million children in Indonesia receive no immunisation by their first birthday while another 2.4 million children are only partially immunised, a recent government survey demonstrated. It is estimated that one Indonesian child dies every 3 minutes and 460 infants die everyday, some from vaccine preventable diseases “We believe in the work that UNICEF is doing to improve the lives of children in Indonesia,” said Mueller. “Even though what we'll give monetarily is a small amount, we're proud to contribute and helping the children of Indonesia fits in with our philosophy of exploring across cultures.” The three met during graduate school at The University of Arizona. Accomplished soloists in their own rights with careers spanning the United States and Europe, they also taught opera and language arts to first graders as a team in the Opening Minds Through the Art program in the Tucson public schools. “We truly appreciate this unique way of engaging audiences to support UNICEF, especially when we can really make a difference for children,” said UNICEF Country Representative, Angela Kearney. “Routine immunisation is a vital programme to reduce child mortality. We are supporting the Indonesian government efforts to fulfill children’s right to survive and thrive through their earliest years.” The Peace Tour was born when the trio, at the urging of Indonesian-born Wicaksono, commissioned Love and Variations from Ananda Sukarlan, a prominent Indonesian composer. The work for soprano, baritone, and piano consists of eight songs in English, Spanish and Indonesian. The successful world premiere and the international scope of the commission project inspired them to bring Sukarlan’s music to Indonesia and to interact with audiences and musicians in that country. “As performers we all strive to infuse our art with purpose. The dual goal of international cooperation and support for children’s programs in Indonesia makes this tour more special than the average performance,” said sopranist Mueller. The main idea of the Peace Tour, according to pianist Wicaksono, “is to create a performance that will hopefully promote peace, mutual understanding, cooperation, tolerance, and compassion.” “What I enjoy most about performing is sharing music with others. The opportunity to share Sukarlan's wonderful Love and Variations with people here in the United States and in Indonesia is very exciting,” said baritone singer Krueger. The trio has embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign to support the tour, and sponsors can make tax-deductible donations to the tour through Swara Sonora’s website. For further information, or to support the Peace Tour and children’s programs in Indonesia, please visit the trio’s website, www.swarasonora.com or please contact: Kathryn Mueller +520-240-9853 kathrynmueller@gmail.com, Josephine Lapod, UNICEF Indonesia, +62 812 8105 659, jlapod@unicef.org About UNICEF
Tuesday, 4 August, 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, 5 August, 13.00 pm Friday, 7 August, 7:30 p.m. Monday, 10 August, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, 11 August, 9:00 a.m. Friday, 14 August, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, 18 August, 7.00 p.m. Wednesday, 19 August, 7:00 p.m. P.O. Box 31453, Tucson, AZ 85751
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