The United Nations Singers are a recreational choir formed in 1947 under the UN Staff Recreation Council to spread the message of harmony and understanding through music. As a microcosm of the world, the group is composed largely of present and former staff of the UN and its agencies and permanent missions. The Singers come from 28 countries. They rehearse in their leisure time, outside office hours, but are usually granted official leave for concert tours. With a repertoire of folk songs and choral music sung mostly a cappella in some 50 languages and wearing colourful national costumes, the choir has given many concerts at the UN itself and also in churches and concert halls in the New York area. In addition, the choir is frequently called upon to perform at festivals and other commemorative events.

Acting as unofficial goodwill ambassadors, the UN Singers have travelled widely: they have performed in the United States and Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. They have taken part twice in the Harmonie Festival in Limburg, Germany. In 2008, the Singers participated in two music festivals in Spain. The Singers were invited to Japan in 2009, giving concerts in Tokyo and Utsunomiya, and are planning a return trip in 2012. In 2010, the Singers travelled to China for the first time. They performed for audiences in Beijing, from 26 to 29 April, and then performed at the United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010 from 1 to 7 May 2010.

From June 2 to 6, 2011, choirs and folklore groups with thousands of participants from throughout the world came together again in Lindenholzhausen, the “smallest festival town in Germany”, where the sixth international HARMONIE FESTIVAL was to take place. After 1999 and 2005, the United Nations Singers joined for the third time with its message of peace and cooperation among people from different backgrounds. Read more about their trip to Germany.

The current conductor and music director is Mr. Guillermo Vaisman from Argentina. He joined the UN Singers in 2004.

MDG#2 Project

At the turn of the millennium, world leaders came together at the United Nations to improve social and economic conditions in the world’s poorest countries.  They targeted eight major areas of development need in the world, which have become known as the Millennium Development Goals.  The United Nations Singers are now embarking on a bold new initiative aimed at using the medium of music to help advance the achievement of MDG #2:  Primary Education.

The United Nations Singers is a recreational club whose members come from all over the world and work at UN headquarters in New York.  We are not funded by the United Nations and we do not represent the UN in any official capacity.  We are “unofficial goodwill ambassadors,” traveling the globe to promote the message of peace and harmony through music.  We dress in national costumes and sing traditional songs in many different languages.  Among an immense array of unforgettable experiences, our visits to schools and children’s hospitals have been particularly moving.  These visits have inspired us to use our energies and unique position to create special events, concerts and performances to further the effort toward the achievement of MDG #2 by the target date of 2015. Click here to view UNTV's report on the UN Singers' MDG project.