The idea for the Concerts for Peace came from the founder and general coordinator of the Citizen
Child
Orchestra (CCO), João Targino, after visiting the Fondazione Asilo Cavalsassi, Rome, in April 2022.
On such
occasion, he and the Citizen Child Orchestra Association chairwoman, Myrna Targino, were received by
the
educational director Elena Pascale, who had scheduled a musical performance with children who study
at the
institution and with teachers who work there and also teach at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa
Cecília
(Rome's most important musical conservatory).
"After seeing those children playing and after we talked about the Citizen Child Orchestra and the
current
situation in the world to Mrs. Pascale, I had a flash of this idea of the CCO, alongside musicians
from the
Fondazione Calvasassi, playing a concert in the presence of the Pope with Russian and Ukrainian
musicians, in
a symbolism of the greatest magnitude, and a demonstration that, with the presence of these
musicians
producing art, side by side, not being in an environment of war, we would be demonstrating that 'in art, there
is no war'", reports João Targino.
Conversations with Cavalsassi Foundation began and then came the invitation from Charis
International for CCO
to be in Rome, on the 3rd and 4th of November 2023, "Pino Scafuro, moderator of Charis
Internacional, approved
the idea, I wrote a letter for Pope Francis, and the Pope approved it, above all, because it has a
very strong
connotation of peace", adds Targino. In addition to Fondazione Cavalsassi and Charis Internacional,
the Obra
de Maria Community is actively participating in the organization of Concerts for Peace and
supporting the
Citizen Child Orchestra in this mission.
The musical performances will take place at the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica and in the Paul
VI Audience
Hall, respectively. This second concert will be attended by Pope Francis. The Citizen Child
Orchestra will
take 25 musicians and eight professionals to the Vatican, who will be joined by Ukrainian, Russian
and Italian
musicians, under the direction of conductors José Renato Accioly, current musical coordinator of the
project,
and Lanfranco Marcelletti Jr., his predecessor in office and guest regent.
Arr.: Dierson Torres
Arr. Nilson Lopes