8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days Commences With Warm Words of Greetings From President Obama

8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days Commences With Warm Words of Greetings From President Obama

Itzhak Perlman, Herbie Hancock, Matisyahu, Ravi Shankar, Joshua Bell among the artists participating worldwide

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The 8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days, a global network of concerts and performances from October 1-31 celebrating the power of music to bridge cultural and religious barriers, commenced today with warm words of greetings from President Obama.

This year musicians from every corner of the globe and every genre will once again unite in a global network of concerts promoting peace and understanding through music. More than 850 performances in 53 countries are already set to be dedicated in memory of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter and musician kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002.

In his message the President stated that "Music has been called a universal language that transcends cultures and borders. Its power to move us, touch our hearts, and speak to our souls enriches our lives. Through artistic creativity and expression, music can build bridges between individuals and communities thousands of miles apart. This month-long event to celebrate music and honor the legacy of Daniel Pearl is a fitting tribute to a man who promoted respect and dialogue throughout the world. On this occasion, we recommit ourselves to tolerance, compassion, and 'Harmony for Humanity.'"

"We are deeply honored by President Obama's recognition of this month-long global network of concerts," stated Judea Pearl, President of the Daniel Pearl Foundation and the father of Daniel Pearl. "Danny was a passionate believer in the power of music to bring people together and transcends ethnic, religious or cultural differences. World Music Days is a tribute to this passion and a powerful instrument in our quest for a hate-free world. Its mission resonates with a broad spectrum of professional and amateur musicians on every continent, as well as youth and school groups.

A talented musician, Daniel Pearl connected to people through music in every country he visited, often joining local music groups and participating in impromptu jam sessions. World Music Days is designed to raise awareness and promote peace, tolerance and understanding of our shared humanity. There is no cost for any musician to participate; they simply sign up at www.danielpearlmusicdays.org and then dedicate a performance from the stage or in the program. Participants can add their bio, photos, videos and links in their Artist Page, which are viewed worldwide on this website.

Spanning across musical and geographic boundaries, World Music Days participants this year includes Honorary Committee members Herbie Hancock, Matisyahu, Ravi Shankar, Mark O'Connor and George Pehlivanian and artists as varied as The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, University of North Texas School of Music, Stanford University Music Department, Clubilya in association with the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, FODfest (Friends of Danny Festival) in 12 States and with the American Institute in Taiwan, The Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and hundreds more.

"World Music Days' message, has clearly struck a chord," said Ruth Pearl, Daniel's mother. "Over and over we hear from artists -- many who participate year after year -- how the simple act of a spoken dedication empowers and inspires both the artist and audience with a sense of purpose and unity around our shared humanity."

Artists can also submit original compositions inspired by the legacy of Daniel Pearl to be considered for the eStage internet radio station available throughout October on the Foundation's Website: www.danielpearlmusicdays.org. eStage features original compositions, music by members of the World Music Days Honorary Committee, recordings from dedicated concerts, as well as themed broadcasts and tapes of Danny himself playing with numerous bands.

The Daniel Pearl Foundation works domestically and internationally to promote cross-cultural understanding, to counter cultural and religious hatred, to encourage responsible and creative journalism, and to unite people through music. For more information please visit www.danielpearl.org.

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Source: The Daniel Pearl Foundation

CONTACT: Danielle Newman, Sitrick and Company, +1-212-573-6100,
media@danielpearl.org, for The Daniel Pearl Foundation

Web Site: http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment