In Harmony With Peace Concert

On Friday evening (29 May, 7.00 pm The Actors Church Covent Garden) we had the pleasure of listening to this very special concert, bringing together the Choir of King's College London and the Princeton High School Orchestra in a celebration of international friendship, collaboration, and shared values.


This project reflects a commitment to peace, sustainability, equality, and cultural exchange, uniting young musicians from the United Kingdom and the United States through the universal language of music.

We were especially pleased to welcome students from Princeton High School, whose participation through the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) highlights the importance of global understanding, education, and partnership.

Thank you for joining us this evening. We hope you enjoyed this celebration of music, learning, and international friendship as much as we did.


The programme was beautifully played and definitely sowed seeds of hope and peace in the hearts and minds of all those who attended.


Programme

J S Bach. Arioso from Cantata No. 156

Trad. Brudestykke from Sonderho Bridal Trilogy

Piazzolla       Oblivion featuring flautist Emily Yunqiao

Faure       Cantique de Jean Racine Sakamoto Forbidden Colours

Nadyala (orch. Cam)       Heartbeats featuring vocalist Tessa Boyle

Piazzolla       Libertango

Thompson      Alleluia

Manuel      Alleluia

Morricone      Cinema Paradiso

Ravel       The Enchanted Garden

Morricone        Gabriel's Oboe featuring flautist Emily Yunqiao

Lennon       Imagine featuring vocalist Tessa Boyle


This concert is supported by the English Chamber Orchestra's Close Encounters Community & Education Programme, which creates opportunities for young people to engage with music through performance, learning, and cultural exchange.


Music Director Choir of King's College London

Robert Loughran


Flute Princeton High School Orchestra

Emily Yunqiao


Vocalist

Tessa Boyle


In association with UNESCO Culture and Arts Education Week


Choir of King's College London

The Choir of King's College London is one of the university's principal musical ensembles, bringing together talented singers from across the College's diverse academic community. Under the direction of the King's College London Music Department, the choir performs a wide-ranging repertoire spanning centuries of choral music, from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary works. The choir regularly presents concerts in London and beyond, collaborating with professional musicians, orchestras, and distinguished guest artists. Alongside its performance schedule, the ensemble plays an important role in the cultural life of the university, fostering musical excellence, creativity, and community among its members. Through its commitment to artistic achievement and collaboration, the Choir of King's College London continues to engage audiences with performances that combine musical integrity, enthusiasm, and a spirit of discovery.


Princeton High School Orchestra

The Princeton High School Orchestra is one of the leading student ensembles in New Jersey, bringing together talented young musicians in a programme that emphasises artistic excellence, collaboration, and personal growth. As part of Princeton High School's distinguished music department, the orchestra performs a diverse repertoire and regularly participates in concerts, festivals, and educational projects both locally and internationally. The orchestra is committed to developing musicianship, creativity, and leadership through performance, while fostering a strong sense of community among its members. Students benefit from a rich musical environment that encourages both individual achievement and collective artistic expression.


Through collaborations with educational, cultural, and professional organisations, the Princeton High School Orchestra provides its musicians with opportunities to engage with audiences and fellow performers from around the world, reflecting the school's commitment to global citizenship, cultural exchange, and lifelong learning.


www.unesco.org/en/weeks/arts-education


www.unesco.org/en/aspnet



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Ann Beatty • June 1, 2026

UNESCO UK ASPnet celebrates young people planting seeds of hope around the world

By Ann Beatty • October 8, 2026
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award . 

UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

By Ann Beatty • September 25, 2026
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.

Change Starts with a Will: Leave a Legacy That Helps Transform Education

September 7, 2026
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide.  https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.