“Peace, Love, & Music Together: An International Day of Peace Celebration”

“Peace, Love, & Music Together:

An International Day of Peace Celebration”

Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT Saturday, September 21

Special guests to take center stage

Hartford, CT, September 1, 2013—Music Together®, the leading international early childhood music education program, will commemorate the United Nations’ International Day of Peace (September 21) with family music events at many of its 2000 locations in 40 countries around the world. One of the largest events will be Peace, Love, & Music Together: An International Day of Peace Celebration at Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT, on Saturday, September 21, 2013, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The family festival will include live music, crafts, and appearances from a diverse array of community performers and organizations from around the state. 

According to Music Together Founder/Director Kenneth K. Guilmartin, who will appear at the Hartford event, “For more than twenty-five years, Music Together has been bringing families together through music and promoting music-making as an amazing resource for bonding parents and children. One of my signature songs, ‘May All Children’ is a wish for world peace, and it will be featured around the world on the UN International Day of Peace. The song has been sung millions of times throughout the world, in Music Together classes and by choruses and school groups as part of our work to support UNICEF. ‘Peace, Love, and Music Together’ will be a heartwarming and joyous celebration in Connecticut—where peace is at the forefront of everyone’s minds at this time.”

Jessica Nevins, Director, Music Together of the River Valley, Ivoryton CT, one of the producers and organizers of the event at Elizabeth Park, adds, “We are building an event that will not only spread peace in Connecticut, but will also send a message to the world. Music Together center directors throughout the state are thrilled to bring together some of the state’s most exciting musicians, choruses, artists, and entertainers for a day of music in honor of peace.”

The event will commence the way it does at the UN, with ringing of bells performed by The Conduit Center of East Hartford, signaling a moment to reflect on a wish for world peace.

Connecticut State Senator Beth Bye, a champion of early childhood education, will accept an award at the event for her work on behalf of Connecticut’s children. Other politicians and VIPs will be announced shortly. 

Other presentations/activities include: meditation and yoga provided by West Hartford Yoga; world music, drumming and dancing; crafts and games for children; merchandise with proceeds to benefit UNICEF; words from elected officials and Music Together's Founder/Director Kenneth K. Guilmartin; peace-inspired performances featuring CT-based folk fusion band The Auburn Mode, Music Together recording artist "Uncle" Gerry Dignan, youth ensembles from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Deep River Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Artists for World Peace, National Theater for the Deaf, and more.

The event is sponsored by Music Together LLC. Participating sponsors include West Hartford Yoga, The Conduit Center, Artists for World Peace, Deep River Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and National Theater for the Deaf.

For more information about Peace, Love, & Music Together, please visit PeaceLoveMusicTogether.com

About Music Together

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this academic year (2012-2013), Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children birth through age seven. The Music Together curriculum, coauthored in 1987 by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (Founder/Director) and Rowan University Professor of Music Education Dr. Lili M. Levinowitz (Director of Research), is based on the recognition that all children are musical: all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. Music Together offers programs for families; schools; at-risk populations; and children with special needs, in over 2000 communities in 40 countries around the world. The company is passionately committed to bringing children and their caregivers closer through shared music-making and helping people discover the joy and educational value of early music experiences. More at www.MusicTogether.com and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MusicTogether.

About the International Day of Peace

Created by a United Nations resolution in 1981, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. It is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig/The Rodi Company/ 203-270-8929/rodicompany@earthlink.net