Gabriel Prokofiev joins EMMA for Peace

EMMA for Peace is proud to announce that Gabriel Prokofiev, one of the most relevant contemporary composers and producers of his generation, joins the organization as an artist representative.

It means so much to me, to be a representative for EMMA for Peace. I’ve been a pacifist all my life, and I strongly believe in tirelessly striving for empathy between opposing groups. Despite political or cultural differences, we should never give up on the search for open dialogue and discussion. I think that mutual understanding is always possible, even if it comes very slowly; and it is essential for long-lasting peace. We share the same, increasingly connected yet endangered, planet, and our similarities as human beings are in fact greater than our differences, so for the sake of future generations we must keep our minds open.

Music is a particularly strong universal language that can communicate beyond linguistic barriers; it can bring people together and remind us of our shared humanity. Even if disagreements persist, music can give us hope, and can be an essential building block to reconciliation and peace. I look forward to working with music as a pathway to peace.

Gabriel Prokofiev

EMMA for Peace at the MED Conference

EMMA for Peace proudly partnered with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Institute for International Policy Studies (ISPI) for the making of a very special music performance at the the social event of the prestigious MED ConferenceMediterranean Dialogues in Rome.

Members of the Galilee Quartet – رباعي الجليل and the Italian cellist Eleonora Testa (all students at the prestigious Accademia Stauffer in Cremona) performed in the magnificent rooms of the Galleria Borghese in Rome for all the institutional guests and delegations who attended the Conference.

Paolo Petrocelli nominated European Young Leader

The President and Founder of EMMA for Peace nominated European Young Leader 2022

The Italian cultural manager Paolo Petrocelli selected by the prestigious organization Friends of Europe among the 40 most influential young personalities in Europe.

Paolo Petrocelli has quickly established himself on the European and international scene as one of the leading cultural managers of his generation.

Today it is also recognized by Friends of Europe, one of the most important European think tanks in the world committed to promoting a new vision for a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive Europe.

The organization at the top of which several former Presidents of the European Commission and  Parliament and former Prime Ministers, including Herman Van Rompuy and Jean-Claude Juncker, each year selects 40 of the most influential under-40 personalities in Europe: young leaders who through their civil and professional commitment have managed to establish themselves for their ability to generate a positive impact within the European Union in various fields including: politics, business, science, culture, sport, media.

Among the European Young Leaders of 2022 has been nominated Paolo Petrocelli, Italian cultural manager and university professor, currently Director General of the prestigious Stauffer Center for Strings of Cremona, the first international music centre for higher education dedicated entirely to string instruments.

A passionate, innovative and dynamic manager with an extensive experience in leadership positions in a variety of organizational settings, Petrocelli is an international relations and global cultural affairs expert.

Paolo’s work is driven by the belief that culture, arts and education are a major force for growth, development and change on the global level.

He is the Founder and President of EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy), one of the world’s largest international non-profit organizations for the promotion of a culture of peace through music diplomacy and education in Europe, Middle East and the Mediterranean region. He is the Founder and Honorary President of the Italian Youth Association for UNESCO, the largest youth organization in the UNESCO system, and Cultural Diplomacy Officer for the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. As a cultural and performing arts manager, university professor and researcher, he has become one the most influential and innovative global cultural leaders, collaborating with some of the most prestigious international organizations, major music institutions and world-renowned artists like United NationsEuropean CommissionRome Opera HouseColdplay.

Petrocelli holds a PhD in Cultural Economics Marketing and Creativity from the IULM University of Milan, an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management of Milan, a Diploma in Violin Performance from the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia of Rome, a BA in Literature Music and Entertainment from La Sapienza University of Rome and a BA (Hons) Music from Middlesex University of London.

He has been a Visiting Fellow at Yale University and a Visiting Researcher at MIT Media Lab, the interdisciplinary research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Today he is a Research Affiliate at the metaLAB (at) Harvard.

To help shape the next generation, Petrocelli lectures at leading universities (including Bocconi University, Yale University, MIT, New York University, Université Paris-Sorbonne) about management and international cultural relations.

Other 39 young leaders have been nominated for 2022, among them: the current Vice President of the European Parliament, the Mayor of Sarajevo, the Vice President of Black Rock (the largest investment company in the world), the Director of the Sciences Po Journalism School, the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Launched in 2012, the European Young Leaders programme is a unique, inventive, and multi-stakeholder programme that aims to promote a European identity by engaging the continent’s most promising talents in initiatives that will shape Europe’s future. The selection of the young leaders is handled by a committee chaired by European personalities of the highest level, including the current President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (herself appointed Young Leader in 2018).

EMMA for Peace and International Composers Festival

We are proud to announce a partnership with the International Composers Festival to develop join initiatives for the promotion of Music Diplomacy. 

ICM is the only festival of its kind in the world, promoting melodic classical music created by living composers.

Guided by the commitment to education and training, EMMA continues its global journey promoting understanding and goodwill through community and international programs.

EMMA for Peace at EXPO Dubai for Aqdar World Summit 2021

EMMA for Peace is pleased to announce its participation at the Aqdar World Summit 2021, which will take place at the Dubai Exhibition Center, on the occasion of EXPO 2020 Dubai on 24-30 October 2021. 
EMMA for Peace will curate the cultural and music program of the Aqdar Art, the artistic platform of the Summit, presenting an exclusive line up of performances:
25th October: Jazz for Peace Vittorio CuculoEnrico Mianulli 
26th October: Brass Quintet European Union Youth Orchestra 
27th October: Music for a better world Oliver Poole Kelly Mathieson 
Additional performances with:Bfoory Band, Nagham Band, Abdulla Al Shamsi.
26th October: Talk on Culture and Global Citizenship withPaolo Petrocelli (Founder, EMMA for Peace), Marshall Marcus (EUYO Secretary General),Kelly Mathiesion (Actress and Singer), Oliver Poole (Pianist and Composer).

Moderator: Khaled Alattar (Board Member, EMMA for Peace)
More info on www.aqdarworld.com 

EMMA for Peace at Abu Dhabi Festival for Hekayat

EMMA for Peace is pleased to invite you all to attend a very special event: the world premiere of Hekayat – a project by Emirati composer Ihab Darwish presented with a virtual concert at Abu Dhabi Festival 2021.Hekayat is an excellent example of music diplomacy: a global performance of 13 compositions is played by 128 musicians in 20 different countries.EMMA for Peace contributed to this inspiring initiative through the participation of young talented Italian cellist Erica Piccotti.Don’t miss the World Premiere on March 30th!

United as One: EMMA for Peace & UNRWA

We are thrilled to finally be able to share the result of a two years collaboration with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.We release today “United as One”: a song-hymn to hope and brotherhood, composed by a group of 23 young Palestinian refugees, in collaboration with a collective of international songwriters and musicians (Davide  DileoJordan De MaioLydia LyonZeina BarhoumAmir Issaa), under the artistic leadership of Paolo Petrocelli (Founder and President of EMMA for Peace).The song represents the voices of over half a million Palestine refugee girls and boys studying in more than 700 schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.Paolo Petrocelli, Artistic Director and Coordinator of the project, calls the collaboration once-in-a-lifetime experience. “We worked all together, students, musicians, cultural operators as one team for two years. Through music we were able to break down all language barriers and cultural differences. The song we have created is the new anthem of young Palestine refugees: a message of peace and love for the entire humanity. For the first time, living through the COVID-19 pandemic, we too experienced everywhere in the world, for a limited period of time, difficulties in freedom of movement and living under a state of emergency. Although this does not compare to the reality that people in Gaza are living, we were able to gain a glimpse of their suffering. With this song we turned their grief and sense of helplessness into strength and hope”.

Call for papers on Music Diplomacy

CALL FOR PAPERS ON MUSIC DIPLOMACYEMMA for Peace, in collaboration with Cambridge Scholars Publishing, is pulling together a guest edited collection called Music Diplomacy: Stories from the World.Music, a universally spoken language that closes language barriers, a symbol of peace. The book examines the effectiveness of this art form in international affairs, global development, and social justice effort through the stories and insights of international scholars, artists, diplomats and professionals.We would like to invite musicians, scholars, experts, diplomats, activists and journalists working in the field to consider submitting one or more chapters.A Chapter should normally be no longer than 6000 words, and should be original and previously unpublished. If the work has already been published (as a journal article, or in conference proceedings, for example), the Publisher will require evidence that permission to be re-published has been granted.

Editor: Paolo Petrocelli

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2021Full paper submission deadline: February 28, 2021More info: info@emmaforpeace.org

New partnership for music diplomacy

We are proud to announce a partnership with The Global Leaders Program to jointly develop contents in regards to Music Diplomacy around the world, during the 2021.The Global Leaders Program empowers arts changemakers to grow organizations that impact communities through an innovative twelve-month Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Community Development, Business Management & Teaching Artistry.Guided by the commitment to education and training, EMMA continues its global journey promoting understanding and goodwill through community and international programs.

Mentorship Program Malawi

We are proud to announce a partnership with Music Crossroads to jointly develop and promote social-engaged music initiatives in Malawi.Paolo Petrocelli, Founder & President of EMMA for Peace, will work along side with Gladson Msendera, music teacher from Music Crossroads Malawi, on delivering a mentorship program for local musicians and music managers.Music Crossroads is a non-profit organisation that supports the development of music education and the music industry in the southern African region.Guided by the commitment to education and training, EMMA continues its global journey promoting understanding and goodwill through community and international programs.