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Artists for Peace
Concert
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[ŠKingmond
Young 2007] |
The International Committee of
Artists for Peace (ICAP) presented its first Annual
Founder’s Concert on December 16, showcasing jazz legends
and multiple Grammy award winners Herbie Hancock and Wayne
Shorter and their friends at Royce Hall, University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in southern California,
U.S.A. Over 1,500 people attended the show, which was
dedicated to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda in celebration of
his 80th birthday on January 2, 2008.
ICAP was initiated by performing artists of SGI-USA and is a
coalition in support of the United Nations International
Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World (2001-10).
Based on its mission to provide peace education through the
performing arts, ICAP confers an annual "Humanities in the
Arts Peace Award," produces cultural exchange concerts and
promotes peace education through music.
Actor Ron Glass served as emcee, introducing Shorter and
Hancock (since, winner of the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of
the Year). Joining Hancock and Shorter on stage were
bass-guitarist Nathan East, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and a
28-member ensemble of UCLA music students.
The idea of performing together with the students reflected,
said Hancock, Mr. Ikeda’s emphasis on the importance of
young people for enabling society to progress.
Hancock introduced a new composition for piano to celebrate
the 80th birthday of Mr. Ikeda, whom he said he considers
his mentor in life. He remarked that, for all Mr. Ikeda’s
significant achievements, it is "the warmth and joy of his
humanity [that have] created the greatest impact on my
life."
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