Singers Perform at the Institute of International Social Development 2017 Award Ceremony

Singers from Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations were invited to perform songs composed by Sri Chinmoy, dedicated to the UN and peace, for the 2017 Award Ceremony of the Institute of International Social Development (IISD), an NGO in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Sharon Hamilton-Getz, Vice President of IISD, emceed the programme, held at the Tillman Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations on 17 November 2017, during which she and IISD President Shomik Chaudhury presented the Awards. The honorees were Mrs. Salwa Kader, President and Founder of the US Federation for Middle East Peace and Sustainable Development; and Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi, Spiritual Directors of Ananda and emissaries of Paramahansa Yogananda. author of Autobiography of a Yogi.

IISD 2017 Award Ceremony. From left to right: IISD Vice President Sharon Hamilton-Getz; Awardees Nayaswami Devi, Mrs. Salwa Kader and Nayaswami Jyotish; IISD President Shomik Chaudhury; and Mr. Kader.

Nilima Silver, General Secretary of Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations, introduces the Singers.

In introducing the Singers, Nilima Silver, General Secretary of the Peace Meditation Group, remarked: “The Singers from Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations have been privileged to perform at the UN and other venues, songs composed by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to peace and the UN. At the invitation of UN Secretary-General U Thant, in 1970, Sri Chinmoy began leading meditations for delegates and staff, and offering other programmes for peace at UN Headquarters, and the Singers are honoured to continue in this spirit. We are especially happy to join our dear friend Sharon in celebrating our ‘one human family through spirituality and the UN goals’. Now we will perform several of Sri Chinmoy’s songs for peace, as arranged by members of the choir.” The Singers first performed several of Sri Chinmoy’s songs of peace, as arranged by members of the choir, accompanied by harmonium and synthesizer. For the closing musical interlude, they performed songs by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to oneness and gratitude, one in Sri Chinmoy’s native Bengali.

For the opening musical interlude, Kamalakanta Nieves plays his own interpretation on the synthesizer of Sri Chinmoy’s music.

The Singers perform several of Sri Chinmoy’s songs of peace, as arranged and conducted by Paree Atkin.

At the close of the programme, the Singers offer two songs by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to oneness and gratitude, the first in Sri Chinmoy’s native Bengali.