Star musician signs up for children

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Star musician signs up for children

Monday, 14 July 1997: UNICEF today named Siberian violinist and international superstar Maxim Vengerov an Honorary UNICEF Envoy for Music.

Already recognized as one of the most gifted classical musicians in the world at age 22, Mr. Vengerov finds room beside his passion for music for another love -- children.

With the appointment, he joins an illustrious group of celebrities who support the work of UNICEF, including Sir Peter Ustinov, Liv Ullmann, Harry Belafonte, Roger Moore, Judy Collins, Julio Iglesias and George Weah. These well-known figures put their own talents to work for children by participating in fund-raising events and advocacy initiatives. Mr. Vengerov is the first classical music artiste to be so appointed.

Through his work with UNICEF, Mr. Vengerov will bring his music to disadvantaged children all over the world. His first mission will be to war-torn Sarajevo where he will travel later this year to see UNICEF-assisted projects and to meet and play for children who have survived the bitter war. Mr. Vengerov will be working closely with UNICEF in the United States as well, beginning this September when he returns to perform as solist with the New York Philharmonic. UNICEF has already benefitted from the magic of Mr. Vengerov's music in recent years through a number of fund-raising concerts held in Germany, London and Geneva.

"Music has given so much to me, from a very early age," said Mr. Vengerov. "Sharing classical music with young people is perhaps the greatest responsibility of my life. I know the joy and the meaning that music can bring to children, even in the most difficult circumstances. If I can touch them and perhaps inspire them, I'll feel very proud."

Mr. Vengerov is the youngest artiste to ever win Gramophone's "Record of the Year" (1995), and recently received two 1996 Grammy nominations for "Classical Album of the Year" and "Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra" honouring his recording of Shostakovich and Prokofiev concertos.

Born in 1974 in Novosibirsk, the capital of Western Siberia, to a family of musicians, Mr. Vengerov had his first violin lesson at age four on a sixteenth-size violin. He played his first concert with orchestra at age five. Since then his stellar performances have graced the stages of the premiere music venues of the world. He has dazzled as a recitalist with the world's finest orchestras under the direction of such maestros as Mehta, Masur, Barenboim, Abbado and Rostropovich, and has recorded with these maestros as well. Mr. Vengerov records exclusively for Teldec Classics International, a Warner Music Group company.

"It is a great honour for UNICEF to count among its supporters this young virtuoso who is so committed to putting his extraordinary talent at the service of the world's children," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Stephen Lewis. "Through his violin, Mr. Vengerov will speak to children and for children."

Please email media@unicef.org with comments or requests for more information, quoting CF/DOC/PR/1997/30.