UNICEF marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with a benefit concert with performances by the famous children’s choir Kolibri, and special guests, world-renowned violinists, Stefan Milenković and Nemanja Radulović.
All proceeds from ticket sales, over $65,000, will be used to support preschool education in the Republic of Serbia through the procurement of didactic materials and toys.
“I want to thank everyone, especially children and our dear guests who all came to celebrate child rights. It is with great pleasure that I can announce that the Government of the Republic of Serbia has joined the UNICEF global pledge of recommitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is no better moment to celebrate together the renewed, collective efforts to realize every right, for every child,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Representative in Serbia.
The concert was an opportunity for celebrated violinists Stefan Milenković and Nemanja Radulović and the Kolibri Choir to perform together for the first time.
“I think every emotion can be translated into a melody and each melody has an important message. I am very pleased that Stefan, the Kolibri Choir and I have come together for such an important event. This magic had to happen, and it is a great honour for me to be on stage with Stefan,” said celebrated violinist Nemanja Radulović.
Stefan Milenković, accompanied by the Muzikon Chamber Orchestra, performed Winter, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Summer from Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, and William’s Theme from Schindler’s List, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
“We try to make other people happy. We do it with passion and that’s why the audience gets what it came for – to enjoy the music. And this time we performed for the children. I have been following Nemanja since the beginning of his career, I really appreciate his work and am fascinated with his career. I am honoured to be here, it’s a special opportunity for us to perform together with the Kolibri Choir. It is an inexpressible joy. I believe it’s very important for all artists to be part of such events,” said Stefan Milenković.
The children in the audience were delighted when Nemanja, Stefan and the Kolibri Choir came together for their joint performance. They performed, to standing ovations and applause, the song especially written by Nikola Cuturilo for the anniversary, For a New Life.
“The message that this song sends, is that all children are the same and that they all have the same rights, regardless of their differences. The right to education, healthcare, a safe home, and a better life are still rights which we strive for today,” said Ljiljana Randjelović, conductor of the Kolibri Choir.
In addition to the nearly 4,000 children, parents and other citizens who attended the concert, several companies also supported UNICEF and preschool education in the Republic of Serbia. They made it possible for children from the Centre for Infant, Children and Youth Protection and children with disabilities from the Sports Association of the City of Belgrade to attend the concert.
Companies that supported the benefit concert were: Vojvodjanska Bank, Ratko Vidović, Conpro, Fedra, Phoenix Pharma, UNIQA insurance, Ball packaging, and Saga. Vip mobile was the Gold partner of the concert, while NIS was the Silver partner.
The City of Belgrade supported the organization of the concert, as did Sky Music, McCann Belgrade, and 365ADS doo.