Kenyan girl features at UN Day concert
The 16-year-old violinist from Kenya Alexandra Mukiri speaking at a press briefing prior to the concert celebrating the founding of the United Nations on October 24. PHOTO | COURTESY |
What you need to know:
- Alexandra Mukiri joined world-renowned pianist Lang Lang and orchestra conductor Manuel Lopez-Gomez at a press briefing prior to the concert celebrating the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945.
- Members of the UN Day youth orchestra come from many countries but they have been able to transcend cultural and linguistic differences, Ms Mukiri said.
NEW YORK/UNITED NATIONS
A 16-year-old violinist from Kenya was featured at the United Nations on Friday at an event highlighting a gala concert on UN Day.
Alexandra Mukiri joined world-renowned pianist Lang Lang and orchestra conductor Manuel Lopez-Gomez at a press briefing prior to the concert celebrating the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945.
Introducing Ms Mukiri, Lang Lang declared, “I love Kenya, and Nairobi is pretty cool.”
Ms Mukiri was one of 80 young musicians from around the world chosen to take part in the performance, which also included the British pop vocalist Sting.
“The UN’s founding represented a paradigm shift in the world,” a poised Ms Mukiri told reporters. “It showed how different contries could be united in different ways. And music is the best way to do this.”
Members of the UN Day youth orchestra come from many countries but they have been able to transcend cultural and linguistic differences, Ms Mukiri said.
“It is amazing how, despite whatever boundaries there may be, we have found a way to communicate, a way to bond,” she remarked.
Calling music “a form of self-expression,” Ms Mukiri added: “It is a way to free yourself from the things that may bind you.”
