UN76 & International Peace Day Celebration
New York Concert for SDGs 2021
Contributing to sustainable future through music
Co-hosted by Music for SDGs, Tiara Group,
and Glocha/IAAI #ActionNow
21 September 2021 (7:30pm – 9:30pm EDT) @ New Yorkin conjunction with the 76 th United Nations General Assembly 2021

Mack Okubo(Executive Producer, Project Director, Music for SDGs)

Music for SDGs and its global partners

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Promoting SDGs through entertainment and music
Music for SDGs Project:
A project aiming to provide opportunities for general public to deepen understandingof SDGs in an easier and enjoyable way through music events, integrating
entertainment and education under the slogan of No one will be left behind
Mack OKUBO (Project Director)
Mack is a multilingual and globally well-known
policy advisor, and has been serving as Sherpa, Asia
Pacific Financial Forum (APFF) Insurance Pension
Group, ESG Finance Working Group, and coSherpa, Sustainable Finance Development
Network (SFDN) in the APEC region.

Music for SDGs Coalition
Mack

Flower Harmony

Kippei

GloCha/IAAI, global partner #Action Now

Ambassador
Gloria Starr Kins

He is also known as multi-talented entertainer andhas launched Music for SDGs Project to enhanceawareness of SDGs among the general public,
inviting talented artists who share the same goals.

What are SDGs and Music for SDGs?

What are SDGs?
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations(UN) aiming to achieve 17 goals by 2030 for a sustainable, equitable, andinclusive society with no one left behind as a keyword.
All UN member countries are asked to work together through public(government) and private (corporations and citizens) partnership to achieve
this goal. It is a common global language for sustainable society.
。

How music can help promote SDGs?

While a number of papers and meetings provide high-quality education for those who are alreadyinformed and motivated on SDGs, most general public are still not aware of SDGs or interested in
the subjects. We aim to provide opportunities for general public to learn about SDGs in an easierand enjoyable way through musical and music concerts integrating entertainment and education.
What makes Music for SDGs Project unique?
The project director is a global policy advisor who chairs working groups to promotesustainable development in the Asia-Pacific and collaborates with the UN, OECD, and APEC
to promote SDGs. The project will be reported to the APEC and the UN. Some events may
take place at UN Head Quarters. Our initiative is also well received by the Japanese
Government committed to SDGs and aims to support G20 2019 Japan, TICAD 2019, Tokyo
Olympics & Paralympics 2021, as well as Osaka Expo 2025.

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Music for SDGs’s major activities ①

4❑ This project’s first event Off-Broadway Jazz Concert – Anime for SDGs thattook place at a theater in Times Square in New York on 1 November 2018,
converting Japanese anime songs into Jazz and combining with talks on SDG
topics corresponding to respective anime movies. The audience enjoyed Jazz
music and learned about the importance of SDGs.
❑ In 2019-21, Shiori Abe (violinist), Mika Watanabe (pianist), Seika Itoh (musicalactress/singer) and Mack Okubo (lecturer) participated in musical presentations
on SDGs at Efma Insurance Summit in Vienna, ASEAN Insurance Congressin Bali and Keio University and Kyoritsu Women’s University lecture.

❑ On 26 October 2020, Music for SDGs co-hosted United Nations 75 Year
Celebration Music Festival for SDGs 2020 with GloCha/IAAI, aiming tocelebrate United Nations’ 75th Year Anniversary and enhance a publicawareness on SDG topics through a talk and music performance. The 17 hour
online event started from opening in Japan, followed by various cities in Europe,
Africa and concluded with a grand finale in New York, in a series ofentertainment shows and educational opportunities. 34 groups of artists,
including a Broadway star, joined the event.
❑ On 21 November 2020, Music for SDGs co-hosted 24-Hour Telethon on Global
Homelessness with the IAPSS （International Association of Political Science
Students), the United Nations Association South New York (UNA-USA), UN2020,
UN75, Music for SDGs, The World Is Watching, US-ASEAN Youth Council, andGPODS, which covered the 6 Regions: Oceania, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin
America and USA/Canada, and provided some panelists and organized all thetalent shows for the event.

Music for SDGs’s major activities ②

5❑ On 22-23 April 2021, Music for SDGs and GloCha/IAAI co-hosted a 24-hour
online music event Earth Day Music Festival 2021 in conjunction with
INTERNATIONAL EARTH DAY, in collaboration with Clermont Choir Foundation(South Africa), CATCH US PERFORMING ARTS (CUPA), International
Association of Political Science Students (IAPSS), Jackson Family Foundation
Japan (Japan), KIMONO GLOBAL CLUB (KGC), Mother Earth Cup Zero, Music
for Climate Justice (M4CJ), ROTARY Dare to be Great e-Club, SDGs Spiral,
Social Japan, Society and Diplomatic Review, Tiara Group, WOMENORCHESTRA JAPAN, for the purpose of enhancing awareness on SDGs throughentertainment and education, starting from opening in Japan, followed by
Europe, Africa and New York in a series of entertainment shows andeducational opportunities.
❑ On 11-14 May 2021, International Association of Political Science
Students (IAPSS) hosted World Congress, where students gathered from 6
regions, Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and USA/Canada. Musicfor SDGs was honored to be part of the World Congress to organize themusical performance by a pre-recorded video program, edited by Miki Takasugi.
❑ On 22-23 June 2021, Tiara Group and Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation
Foundation of New York co-hosted an online event Prayer for Okinawa,
supported by Music for SDGs, in conjunction with Okinawa’s Memorial Day, a
day designated to commemorate the war dead from the Battle of Okinawa
among others. The audience enjoyed a series of music performance relatedwith Okinawa, and heard speeches about Okinawa’s history and importance ofpreserving world peace and beautiful nature.

Music for SDGs’s major activities ③

6❑ On 10-11 July 2021, Music for SDGs co-hosted a 15-hour Music
Festival for SDGs 2021 with GloCha/IAAI in conjunction with
United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF), inviting
artists and speakers in collaboration with Catch US Performing
Arts (CUPA), Kimono Global Club (KGC), Mother Earth Cup, Music
for Climate Justice, Rotary Dare to be Great e-Club, SDGs Spiral,
Social-Japan, Society and Diplomatic Review, 360 HUB Global,
Tiara Group, and Women Orchestra Japan, for the purpose ofenhancing awareness on selected SDGs in a form of panel
discussions, speeches and entertainment shows.
❑ On 6 August 2021, Tiara Group hosted an online event
Hiroshima Prayer for Peace, supported by Tiara Grass, Musicfor SDGs, Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New
York, and NY Hiroshima Kai, at the anniversary of the atomic
bombing of Hiroshima. The audience prayed for world peace andheard a series of speeches by lecturers and enjoyed music
performances by artists related with Hiroshima.
❑ On 9 August 2021, Tiara Group hosted an online event
Hiroshima Prayer for Peace, supported by Tiara Grass, Musicfor SDGs, and Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New
York, at the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The
audience heard a series of speeches by lecturers and enjoyedmusic performances related with Nagasaki, including a song by asinger from Porto in Portugal, a sister city of Nagasaki.

New York Concert for SDGs 2021 (21 September 2021)
On 21 September 2021, Music for SDGs will co-host UN76 & International Peace Day Celebration New York Concert
for SDGs 2021 with Tiara Group and GloCha/IAAI in conjunction with the 76th United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) and International Peace Day, for the purpose of enhancing awareness on world peace and SDGs.
The event will take place at Michiko Studios (149 W 46th St. New York): 7:15pm (open) 7:30pm-9:30pm [EDT]The artists include YUZURINO HANA [Yuzu Natsumi (singer song writer/shamisen player), Rino Aise (Tiara’s
CEO/singer/sanshin player)], Youth Yamada (guitarist/bassist), Jazz4SDGs [Mack Okubo (executive producer/singer/
dancer), Aya Ishida (singer/composer), Nobuki Takamen (guitarist/composer), Ai Yamashita (pianist/ keyboardist/composer), Rintaro Mikami (drummer/composer), Hina Oikawa (alto sax player), Takashi Hirose (bassist)], Akira
Watanabe (musical actress/singer/dancer), and Yurika Ono (dancer), and Elizaveta Kozlova (opera singer/soprano).
`Meet our Assistant Director/Music Advisor/Musician

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Diversity&Inclusion :Being bridge between Japan and the World through music

Ai Yamashita(pianist/keyboardist/composer)

Ai Yamashita from Japan, a Bostonbased keyboardist, songwriter andalumuni of Berklee College of Music 17’.
Her mission statement is “Being
bridge between Japan and the Worldthrough music” and she has been
contributing for cultural exchange
and music diversity in US with her
J-Pop band “Ai’s Sakura Band”.

Ai arranged a number of Japanese anime andpopular songs in Bossa, Jazz, Salsa, teaming up
with Mack and Kippei of Music for SDGs Coalition.
She has recently released ONE PIECE WE ARE!
EDM Remix (https://youtu.be/ecO_cqIGhDk)

Ai Yamashita Website
https://www.aiyamashita.com/

Ai’s Sakura Band
https://youtu.be/s7bhbzeYGa8

In addition, she has recently released
new original song called “Min na
Tomodachi - We are all friends” which
aiming to work on many present
problems such as Racism/Discrimination/Diversity and LGBTQ.
“Minna Tomodachi” (In Japanese)
https://youtu.be/uo2Nidz32J0

Ai attended Youth Climate Action Empowerment
GloCha Youth Dialogue International Youth Day(IYD) 2020 on behalf of Music for SDGs
and reported her activities to promote SDGs
through music.

Ai is now leading the Musicfor SDGs Project as Assistant
Director and music advisor.

GloCha/IAAI - our global partner

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GloCha/IAAI, our global partner #ACTION NOW
GloCha (Secretary General Miroslav Polzer）is a multi-stakeholder partnership, formed
as 501c3, for individuals, institutions and UN agencies to collaborate together to act on
global challenges. GloCha creates opportunities for youth, social entrepreneurs andlocal communities to collaborate for a safe climate and just society.

GloCha initiates events, and convenes conferences in support of the SDGs leveraging
collaborations and technologies like apps and block chain to improve outcomes. Its
three pillars are culture, technology, and organizational innovation. GloCha cultivates
improved solutions to global challenges as a UN accredited NGO partner (ECOSOC and
UNFCCC) with sister organization, IAAI (International Association for the Advancementof Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges). http://www.glocha.info
Miroslav Polzer Miroslav Polzer is founder and CEO of International Association for the Advancement of Innovative（Secretary General,
Approaches to Global Challenges www.glocha.info, a United Nations (ECOSOC, UNFCCC, GCF) accredited
IAAI GloCha）
civil society organization based in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee (Austria). At IAAI Miroslav helped to set up
following flagship initiatives: GloCha multi stakeholder partnership for Agenda2030 Action,#GiveYouthAChance Resource Mobilization for Youth Climate Action, Youth Entrepreneurship 2030,
Blockchain for Youth Climate Action). Miroslav Polzer also works as an independent management
consultant, advising companies and public authorities on implementation of sustainable development
goals on local level through multi stakeholder partnerships and social entrepreneurship business models..

Our Ambassador and Government Liaison Protocol
Gloria Starr Kins
(Editor-in-Chief and Publisher,
Society & Diplomatic Review)

Gloria is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Society& Diplomatic Review (SDR), a United Nations
accredited publication Ｔｈａｔ serves as a directoryof Ambassadors, UN Secretariat, and theConsular Corps. SDR covers diplomatic eventsand is the premier journal covering the UN.
Gloria has been a long-time society anddiplomatic editor of Irish Connections magazine
and Irish Examiner newspaper. Before that, she
worked alongside Wyatt Cooper as an editor for
the Status Diplomat and headed the New York
office of Curtis Publishing encompassing Sat
Evening Post, Holiday magazine, and Status
magazine.

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She is a veteran UN Correspondent, society and diplomatic
editor of many newspapers, and a correspondent for the
Jewish Post newspaper. She represented WOR Radio andTelevision as head of their United Nations Operations, and wasan Associate Producer of NBC’s “Open Mind.” Gloria is ViceChair of the Center for Global Action for Sustainable
Development (CGASD) and was a founding member of
UNICEF’s Manhattan chapter, the Islamic Council of Europe,and the Islamic Defense League in London.
In addition, she also serves as a Government Liaison on the Board of Directors for
the OCCAM Infopoverty World Conference, Oklahoma University liaison, andvarious other organizations and Chambers of Commerce. Recently, Gloria wasmade the head of the North American representative office of Association de la
Plume pour la culture et le development, a Chad-based foundation. She is also
active on the Board of advisers of The Green Earth Enterprises, LLC, a company
that uses aquaponics and hydroponics to solve the world’s food and water
insecurities in addition to IAAI GloCha board of advisers. The Hope Foundation as
well as the Halte Ebola Foundation made Gloria a member of their Board of
Directors. As of recently, Ms. Kins became the Co-Chairman of World Peaceever
TV, an ECOSOC accredited United Nations Foundation. She is also the Vice
President of Ai-Blockchain, a company that develops blockchain technology.

Tiara Group - our collaborating partner

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Bringing love, hope and world peace, and building a beautiful planet
Tiara Group
Under the concept of “Discover past, live today and connect with future”, Tiara Group holds
events on peace, human rights, environment, and cultural understanding of each country.
Through music, dance, recitation among others. Tiara aims to deepen understanding
between people around the world, and to prevent friction and conflict. In 2021, Tiara hosted
online peace events; Prayer for Okinawa (22 June), Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August).

Rino Aise（Founder and CEO, Tiara Group）（Singer/Sanshin Player）

Rino Aise, a native of Japan, is founder and CEO of Tiara
Group. She is also a performer of drama and music,
particularly for peace. Rino initially studied Minyo (folk songs)
with Ryushu Kubota, the highest teacher of the Hokkaido Folk
Song Federation and, then, started playing sanshin,a traditional Okinawa instrument, to pursue her music career,playing folk songs and original songs in the U.S. and Japan.
​Duo: PinkLagoon, Yuzuri no Hana
Band: HeiwaPeaceBand: Vocal & Sanshin.
Website https://rino.main.jp

Meet our participating artists

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Sharing Japanese culture through music and art
Yuzu Natsumi (Singer song writer/Shamisen Player)
A singer, writer and composer, Yuzu uses her shamisen
to bring the beauty and sophistication of traditional
Japanese culture to the world through contemporary
and traditional music. She has traveled around the world
to the United States, Asia, Thailand, the Philippines, andCambodia, and in 2019, she performed at Japan Expoin Paris for the first time. She was supposed to performagain at Japan Expo 2020 in Paris, which was
postponed due to Covid-19.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuzu_singer

Yuzurino Hana (Duo of Shamisen & Sanshin Players)
Yuzuri no Hana, formed in 2021, is a music duo
combining Japanese traditional instruments; Tsugaru
shamisen by Yuzu and Sanshin by Rino (see page11).

Website http://rino.main.jp/yuzurinohana

Meet our participating artists

The John Lennon Songwriting
Contest Finalist 2019 2015
Youth Yamada(Singer song writer/Guitarist/Bassist)

Youth Yamada is a singer/songwriter andinstrumentalist born in Philadelphia and raised inJapan. With his left-handed guitar, harmonica andaccompanied by the subtle clapping sounds of thekhartal, Youth plays soulful folk music straight fromthe heart. His songs are hypnotically catchy, upbeatand gives his audience melodies that are
unforgettable.

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Marc Chagall's poetry expressedin music “Seul est Mien”

Elizaveta Kozlova (Opera singer/soprano)
Russian-born soprano Elizaveta Kozlova has
appeared as a soloist in Moscow International
House of Music as a member of Vladimir
Spivakov’s Youth Foundation. Elizaveta Kozlova
made her Lincoln Center debut as Susanna in
Le Nozze di Figaro with New York Lyric Opera.
Other operatic appearances include Pamina (Die Zauberflöte)with Manhattan Opera Studio and Amore (L’incoronazione diPoppea) with Berlin Opera Studio. Elizaveta is the 1st Prize
Winner of Russian State Competition “Music, Talent, Discovery”.
She is the founder of The Chagall Project
which has received the 2020 Marin Alsop
Entrepreneurship Award. Elizaveta Kozlova ispursuing her Masters Degree at Mannes Schoolof Music where she studies with Ruth Falcon.

Website http://www.youthyamada.com

Website http://www.youthyamada.com

Meet our participating artists

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Jazz4SDGs Jazz musicians covering anime, musical and popular songs injazz, combined with talks on SDG topics.
Mack Okubo

Aya Ishida (Singer/Composer)(Singer/dancer/comedian/producer)

Aya Ishida is a New York-based vocalist and composer specializing in Jazz.
Originally from Japan, Aya moved to NYC in 2013 to pursue a B.F.A in Jazz
Vocal Performance. She developed her sound and style by studying with Steve
Wilson and Carolyn Leonhart. In 2017, Aya graduated from The City College of
New York under the Kaye Scholarship with Degree Honors Magna Cum Laude.
Her 2018 debut album, Day by Day, was produced by the Grammy awardwinning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery. Alongside her original compositions, italso includes her favorite jazz standards with her own arrangements. She also
hosted an album release event at the Cornelia Street Cafe.

Apart from being a multi-lingual
policy advisor (see also page2), Mack
is known for a multi-talented
entertainer. Mack’s entertainment
activities include: Kumamoto charity
concert, music show at Carnegie
Hall, NYC anime dinner show,
Hachinohe Tanabata concert, Japan
Fes Bon Bon dancer, and OffBroadway jazz anime concert.

Website: http://mackglobe.com

In September 2018, Aya moved back to Japan andperformed at Jazz clubs across the country. In late
2018/early 2019, she toured with jazz bands in Japan,
Taiwan, and Paris. In October 2019, Aya moved back to
NYC to perform, write, and record music. In 2021, Aya
was selected to receive City Artist Corps Grant from the
New York Foundation for the Arts and the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs. She was also selected asa Bespoken Fall 2021 fellows cohort. Bespoken is a
Website:mentorship program for women and non-binary
http://ayaishida.com musician in classical, contemporary, and jazz music.

Meet our participating artists

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Jazz4SDGs (cont.) Jazz musicians covering anime, musical and popularsongs in jazz, combined with talks on SDG topics.
Nobuki Takamen

Ai Yamashita

Rintaro Mikami(Guitarist/Composer)(pianist/keyboardist/composer)(Drummer/Composer)

Nobuki, a world-renowned jazz
guitarist and composer, has beendeveloping a reputation as ‘’the best
jazz guitarist Japan has ever produced’’
as lauded in AllAboutJazz.
He also won the First Place for
Instrumental Category at the 2019
USA Songwriting Competition

Ai arranges and plays anime,
J-PoP, musical songs in jazz,bossa, latin music, etc. Also
her original songs to enhanceawareness of SDGs.
(See also Page 10)

Website:http://nobukitakamen.com

Website:ttps://www.aiyamashita.com

Rintaro is a drummer, composer bornin Japan, and based in Brooklyn, New
York. In 2018, he was accepted to get
in to the School of Jazz andContemporary Music at the New
School with Scholarship award.
Beside leading his leader quartet, hehas been performed in many different
projects/bands in the US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rintaro_mikami

Meet our participating artists

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Jazz4SDGs (cont.) Jazz musicians covering anime, musical and popularsongs in jazz, combined with talks on SDG topics.
Hina Oikawa (alto sax player)

Takashi Hirose (Bassist)

Alto saxophone player and composer, Hina Oikawa was born in Saitama,
Japan in 1998. She started playing the saxophone at age12. She started
performing at jazz venues in Tokyo when she was a high school student. In
2016, she was not only a full tuition scholarship student in Shobi university
but also she has performed at many jazz venues throughout Japan. She
received “The Most Improved Student Award” in SEIKO Summer Jazz
Camp2018. She was selected a member of “JFC All Star Big Band” directedby a GRAMMY nominee pianist Makoto Ozone and she has performed withthe band in Tokyo Jazz Festival in 2017 and 2018. In September 2021, she
received the scholarship from The Rotary Foundation of International andthe scholarship from Saitama Prefecture to attend the Master's Program at
Queens College, City University of New York.

Takashi Hirose was born in Kagawa. After
graduate high school, move to Tokyo and
Go to Muse Mode music school. Graduate
there at the top grades. Then move to NY
and start to gospel every Sunday. Playing
with Richerd Hartley, Donnie MaClurkin.

Instagram:
Website: https://hinaoikawa.com

https://www.instagram.com/takashi_bassss

Meet our participating artists

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A musical actress, singer anddancer promoting SDGs

A NY-based dancer with awareness ofhumanities and social issues

Akira Watanabe (Musical actress/Singer/Dancer)

Yurika Ono (Dancer)

Akira Watanabe is a musical actress based in New
York City, born in Gifu Prefecture. She graduatedfrom the University of Nebraska, majoring in musicaltheater. She has appeared as Pilar in Cutie Blonde,
Dance Captain in Sister Act, and in around 20 otherproductions. She is also a contestant in Miss Japan.
Akira is also traveling aroundthrough Midwest. She does
concert dance and cabaret
singing whenever she is not
performing in shows.

Akira has a Youtube channel,
KiSSo with her bestie/partner,
So-Young Chun, where people
can enjoy their dancing andsinging videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfM6c7gswks
Website: http://akirawatanabe.us

Yurika Ono is a Japanese dancer, currently
living in New York.
In 2017, she studied dance in New York for
one year. During that time, she performedin the opening act of "Macy's Thanks Giving
Parade" in the United States.
In 2018, she graduated from Japan
Women's University, Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences.

In 2019, she participated in 2019 in the "World of Dance"competition in Los Angeles, and won the "Crowd Favorite Award“,a prize chosen by the audience.
In 2020, Yurika got an opportunity to perform off-Broadway, but
the show was postponed due to Covid-19.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulikaxx

About the venue

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UN76 & International Peace Day Celebration New York Concert for SDGs 2021
will take place on 23 September, Tuesday
Michiko Studios is located in theMichiko Studios (149 W 46th St. New York) https://michikostudios.com/ heart of Times Square.
Studio 2 (the largest room) on the third floor
7:15pm (open) 7:30pm-9:30pm [EDT]Free admission (donation suggested)
For social distancing, the seats are limited to 40 (including artists).
Early registration is recommended.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/un76-international-day-celebration-new-yorkconcert-for-sdgs-2021-tickets-174208130207

UN76 & International Peace Day New York Concert for SDGs 2021 will be recorded
to be broadcasted around the globe at our UN76 Celebration Music Festival for
SDGs. The recording would only include our artists, not the audience.

Important Message from Michiko Studios
Due to citywide legislation we are required
to ask for an ID from all guests 18+ andproof of vaccination from all guests 12+
Proof of vaccination includes but is not
limited to: NYS Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID
Safe App, Physical Vaccine cards, andPhotos of Vaccine Cards.

”Music for SDGs” Project contributing to sustainable future
through music Mack Okubo, Project Director

19Music for SDGs’ Main Schedule in 2021（tbc）

Jan 2021 Music for SDGs Anime Festival @online, supporting
an elementary school construction project in Cambodia
Jan 2021～ Musical speeches and lectures ＠Keio University,
Kyoritsu Women’s University (Kagayaki & Women Orchestra）
22 April 2021 Earth Day Music Festival ＠online

Supporting artists
with disabilities 100

Supporting elementary school
construction in Cambodia

11 May 2021 IAPSS World Congress ＠online

23 June 2021 Tiara “Prayer for Okinawa” ＠online
10-11 July 2021 United Nations HLPF side event＠ online
6 August 2021 Tiara “Prayer for Hiroshima” ＠online
9 August 2021 Tiara “Prayer for Nagasaki” ＠online
Sep 2021 UN General Assembly side event ＠NY and online
Nov 2021 Cop26 side event ＠worldwide online
Joining Music for Climate Justice (M4CJ)’s Global Music Festival

For more details, visit mackglobe.com or MusicForSDGs.com

or email Mack (mackglobe@gmail.com or MusicforSDGs@gmail.com)

3Q and/or 4Q 2021 Jazz Anime Concert ＠NY
Throughout the year 2021 hosting music events, providing
artists or panelists for meetings and SDG promoting events