AVoice4Peace is a world-wide peace awareness project led by the Nairobi Chamber Chorus (NCC) and the Festival Singers of Florida (FSOF).

The United Nations General Assembly established September 21st as the International Day of Peace. We're celebrating this day of non-violence and cease-fire with a world-wide peace concert, in Nairobi, Kenya.

In addition, anyone with a smartphone or camcorder can record and submit a video of themselves singing the repertoire. Several of the submissions will be featured in a documentary film celebrating the legacy of the project, and will be shown at future AVoice4Peace concerts each year. 

The mission of the project is very simple, to encourage choirs and musicians to dedicate one day of the year to talk and sing about peace. The inaugural event for the project will be held on September 21, 2016.

'Ukuthula' has become like an anthem for the project and the Nairobi Chamber Chorus (NCC). The NCC has experienced the power of it over six years of performing the piece worldwide: in Kenya, Spain, USA, UK, Tanzania. Without fail it moves audiences through its simple but powerful melody and lyrics, speaking to the heart of each listener, connecting with an inner desire for harmony and calm in our lives. Its South African heritage is a stark example of how music can bring together people of different backgrounds and viewpoints.

Listen to a recording of the NCC and the Festival Singers of Florida (FSOF) singing 'Ukuthula' here.

A documentary film is a powerful tool for expression and education. The best documentaries leave people feeling informed about a subject and empowered to be a part of the solution.

Our goal with the AV4P documentary is to give voice to the stories and songs of several musicians participating in the first-ever AVoice4Peace Concert held in Nairobi, Kenya on September 21, 2016.

Through the eyes of our characters, we'll learn about the importance of international and inter-cultural musical collaboration, as well as the powerful effect that music has on listeners (and performers) when used as an instrument for peace. 

If you’re interested in submitting a recording for AVoice4Peace, you’ll need to sign up to Host an Event or Join an Event by contacting the organizer of an existing public recording session.

For more information, follow the guidelines posted here.

Hosting a Recording

To host a recording event you need at least one (1) performer, and there's no maximum number of performers who can join. This means you can record 'Ukuthula' in your closet at home, in the park with some friends or with a full choir in Carnegie Hall!

Organizers have the option to make their event public or private. 

A public recording session is open to the public. Visitors to avoice4peace.org will be able to see the time, date, and location of this event and can request to join your recording session. 

A private recording session will remain unlisted on the site.

Joining a Recording

To join a recording event, visit this page to contact the organizer of a public recording event in your area. Ask them if you can join their recording event, and come to the event ready to sing.

Some event organizers may ask you to attend at least one rehearsal beforehand, while others might want to rehearse just prior to the recording.

Videos recorded with a smartphone or desktop webcam will work for us!

You can download a copy of the 'Ukuthula' score, plus a pronunciation guide here.

Up until August 16, 2016, we’ll be fundraising a portion of our production costs via the online crowd-funding platform, Kickstarter. You can make pledge to our Kickstarter here.

You can follow AVoice4Peace on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube at the following handle: @AVoice4Peace

Follow AVoice4Peace on our social media channels, and subscribe to our mailing list here.

We’ll be writing a post soon outlining a lesson plan that K-12 teachers can use with their choral students on September 21st.

After consideration of the virtual choir concept, AVoice4Peace has decided to postpone the virtual choir concept indefinitely.

You can learn more about September 21st, the International Day of Peace, here.