2026 CONCERTS

UN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
PRESENTS
“MADIBA”
WITH 3X GRAMMY WINNER WOUTER KELLERMAN
IN CELEBRATION OF NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY


VIRTUAL GLOBAL LAUNCH (LIVE & ON DEMAND): UNITED NATIONS
Saturday, 18 July 2026
9:30am EST (New York Time) / 3:30pm SAST (South Africa)

UN Global YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2YkU6Wb-gI

UN WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10habs9jr

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.”

~Nelson Mandela

On Saturday, 18 July 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) presents “Madiba” with Wouter Kellerman, a three-time Grammy Award-winning South African flautist, producer, and composer, who has also earned nine South African Music Awards.  The event will be broadcast internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.

Honouring the enduring legacy of the former South African President and his commitment to peace, freedom, and service, “Madiba", a musical prayer, offers a heartfelt tribute that blends power and tenderness.  Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the United Nations' goals and values at large - through the universal language of music.

Learn more about Mandela Day at the United Nations:

https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/

Listen to the “Madiba” on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora, and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide.
https://lnk.to/WouterKellermanBrendaVongovaMadiba

100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.

Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://crisisrelief.un.org/

 

OPENING MESSAGE

H.E. Mr. António Guterres
UN Secretary-General


MUSIC PROGRAMME

UN Chamber Music Society
of the  United Naitons Staff Recreation Council
Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director

“Madiba”
Wouter Kellerman, Brenda Vongova, UN Chamber Music Society, feat. Timothy Moloi
Composed by: Wouter Kellerman
Produced by: Wouter Kellerman, Tholsi Pillay, Brenda Vongova
Arranged by: Mauritz Lotz

Published by: Kellerman Music 

Performers:

Wouter Kellerman (Flute)
Timothy Moloi (Vocals)

UN Chamber Music Society (Chamber Music Ensemble)
Brenda Vongova (Music Director)
Josh Liu (Violin), Leslie Ashworth (Violin), Alexander Mclaughlin (Viola), Robin Park (Cello), Brenda Vongova (Piano)

Audio Production:
Flute recorded by Wouter Kellerman at Kellerman Music Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa
Vocals recorded by Robin Walsh at Assegai Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa

UN Chamber Music Society recorded by Mumeneer (resident engineers at Klavierhaus) in New York, USA
Mixed and Mastered by Edward Bilous and Marco Sabatini in New York, USA

SPECIAL THANKS

UN Department of Global Communications

Wouter Kellerman
Tholsi Pillay
⁠Timothy Moloi
⁠Paulo Areal/The Moving Picture Company
Gallo Music/Antos Stella
Nelson Mandela Foundation
⁠Mauritz Lotz
⁠Presidential Shirt South Africa

Overall Video Editing
Omar Soubra, Video Editor

 

More information:
https://www.un.org/en/delegate/un-chamber-music-society-presents-%E2%80%9Cmadiba%E2%80%9D-3x-grammy-winner-wouter-kellerman-%E2%80%93-celebration

UN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY PRESENTS
“DON’T RUIN MY WORLD – SOIL OF LIFE” WITH

JULIAN MARLEY

IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS

 

VIRTUAL GLOBAL LAUNCH: UNITED NATIONS

Friday, 5 June 2026
9am Eastern Standard Time (New York)

WATCH THE ALBUM LAUNCH: UNITED NATIONS

UN Global YouTube:  https://youtu.be/kri-jsl2vf0

UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17/k17qj0hk8l

On Friday, 5 June 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society presents “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” with Julian Marley — son of reggae legend Bob Marley — in celebration of World Environment Day at the United Nations. The event will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.

Julian Marley — a Grammy Award-winning musician, singer-songwriter — carries forward his father Bob Marley’s lifelong message of justice, love, and reverence for the earth. Just as Bob Marley used music to speak truth across borders, Julian’s “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” channels that same spirit of conscience into one of the defining crises of our time: the climate emergency.

Climate change is no longer a distant warning — it is a humanitarian crisis unfolding now. As the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documents, floods, droughts, extreme heat, and super-storms are driving surging displacement, food insecurity, and suffering on every continent. Since the year 2000, climate-related needs within humanitarian appeals have risen by 800 per cent. In 2026, humanitarians aim to assist 135 million people in need, with climate change identified as one of the two primary drivers of global humanitarian crises alongside conflict. Every fraction of a degree of warming matters — and every act of solidarity matters too.

In this spirit, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicating 100% of its streams from this release to UN OCHA — so that this music does more than move hearts: it funds the frontline humanitarian response to the climate crises Bob Marley warned us about, and Julian Marley is calling us to face.

On this occasion, opening remarks will be delivered by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.  Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large - through the universal language of music.

Listen to the UN Chamber Music Society’s remix of “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” with Julian Marley on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora, and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide. 100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.
https://sym.ffm.to/dontruinmyworldsoiloflife
 

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Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://crisisrelief.un.org/

OPENING MESSAGE

H.E. Mr. António Guterres
UN Secretary-General


WELCOME REMARKS

Melissa Fleming

UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications

 

MUSIC PROGRAMME
 

JULIAN MARLEY (1975 -) Don't Ruin My World - Soil of Life (UN Chamber Music Society

arrangement) – Remix
 

Composers: Julian Marley, Simon Michel, Floyd Barrett, Reggie Kerr, Shaanti Kosmo, Jamie Hinckson
Arranged by: A Bu for the UN Chamber Music Society

Performed by:
Julian Marley
UN Chamber Music Society: Brenda Vongova (Artistic Director & Piano), Hana Mundiya (Violin), Rohan Mundiya (Violin), Elaine He (Violin), Jeremy Kienbaum (Viola), James Kang (Viola), Derek Louie (Cello), Jessica Hong (Cello)
Kerri-Ann Lewis (Background Vocals)
The Children’s Voice Chorus (Background Vocals)

Recording Engineer: Shaanti Kosmo
Mixing Engineer: Shaanti Kosmo
Vocal Mixing Engineer: Marc Lee
Mastering Engineer: Marc Lee
Executive Producer: Gerald Prolman (Everland)
Producers: Shaanti Kosmo, Julian Marley, Floyd Barrett, Reggie Kerr, Brenda Vongova

SPECIAL THANKS

UN Department of Global Communications

Julian Marley
Reggie Kerr

Symphonic

Omar Soubra
Video Editor

"Earth and Water" Artwork:
By Ann Monroe
“Earth and Water’ symbolizes the organic growth of foliage and roots, aligning closely with the "Soil of Life" theme. The dominant deep greens and rich earth-tones, contrasted against vibrant blues, create a powerful visual metaphor for our planet. Additionally, the fluid art technique suggests a world in motion—dynamic and alive—which serves as a fitting symbol for this orchestral collaboration between Julian Marley and the UN Chamber Music Society.

More information:
https://www.un.org/en/delegate-delegate-fr/un-chamber-music-society-dont-ruin-my-world-woil-life