The boys and girls of the choir do not mind being kept waiting--not when they are waiting for the Secretary-General of the United Nations...
The occasion was UN Day at the United Nations Women's Guild celebration at the Millennium Hotel in New York City. "I was so impressed with how patient and well-behaved the children were." said Projects committee chair, Blanca A. Baquero. "I felt sorry for them, but our president was running late." That was honorary president Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who had been addressing the General Assembly at the UN building earlier. "The children's voices were beautiful and they were so sweet," added Ms. Baquero. Her colleagues from the New York Chapter of the Women's Guild joined in agreement.
“This is a crucial year in the life of our United Nations,” Mr. Ban noted, on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. “Never has leadership and partnership been more important,” Mr. Ban stressed. “We can see more clearly than ever that the threats of the twenty-first century spare no one."
The choir was invited to sing by the other president of the UN Women's Guild, Mrs. Tsu-wei Chang. The purpose of the Guild is to assist children in need and mother-child care programs throughout the world, and to serve as a mutual bond and center of interest for women connected with the United Nations Organizations around the world.
The children performed several songs to the invited guests at a lavish reception. "These local events are preparation for the stresses of performing on tour," notes Music Director James Backmon. Once again, the New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir proved themselves in a high profile event. "Poise and confidence are a self-discipline that comes with musical training," says Mr. Backmon. "The boys and girls take pride in singing well, and they remember that it is important to make a good impression both on and off stage."
Membership of the Women's Guild is open to any woman staff member or retiree, wife, mother, sister or daughter of a staff member or retiree of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, including those connected through long- or short-term consultancies. It is also open to any current woman staff member or wife of a staff member of a Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
