The Monaco Boys Choir and The Maubara Youth Center in Timor-Leste
Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco
Youth helping Youth
And strengthening the bonds of cultural exchange, friendship and cooperation
Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco (Monaco Boys Choir), a world famous all- boys choir, was officially started in 1974 under H.S.H. Prince Rainier III of Monaco. While there had been a choral group in Monaco since the 18th century, this new choir was specifically designed for boys between the ages of 9 to 15 years old to act as a way of displaying Monaco’s culture. Under the direction of Mr. Phillipe Debat the group became affectionately christened the Prince’s “little singing ambassadors.”
Following the death of Phillipe Debat in 1999, the Government appointed his son and assistant, Pierre Debat, to take over in leading the choir. Performing both in the Cathedral in Monaco and in concerts around the world, the singers act as representatives of Monaco’s rich and historical culture. Further, following in the footsteps of their Philanthropic Prince Albert II, the youth perform concerts to raise necessary awareness about important humanitarian needs.
It is in this role that the Monaco Boys Choir was able to become involved with the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD). With the initiative of Maestro Pierre Debat and under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, it was decided that a selection of the 2010 July Concert series in the United States would benefit the creation of a Youth Center. Bridging cultural divides through the creation of the Maubara Youth Center is a natural progression of Monaco’s efforts in Timor-Leste.
The choir traveled through the United States during July 2010 performing concerts from New York City to Miami. The benefit concerts took place in St. Bridget’s Church in Philadelphia, thanks to John B. Kelly III, Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., thanks to H.E. Ambassador Gilles Noghes, Monaco’s Ambassador to the USA, and in the Florida International University Wertheim Concert Hall in Miami, thanks to Monaco’s Honorary Vice Consul in Miami Tomas Abreu.
During the selected concerts, it was the honour of FPCD’s Executive Director to present a slide show about the special youth center project the Monaco Boys Choir are helping to achieve. The concerts were meant to educate the public about Timor-Leste, further strengthen the relationship between Monaco and Timor- Leste, and to bridge cultural divides through a new movement, that of youth helping youth.
Thanks to H.E. Secretary of State Agio Periera, the community of Maubara was identified and the Monaco Boys Choir wrote a letter expressing their intentions ( see below). On 29 August 2010, Mr. Pierre Debat, in company of H.E. President Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo and H.E. Secretary of State Periera, visited Maubara to meet with the community to familiarize them with the Monaco Boys Choir and to interact with the youth regarding the future Maubara Youth Center. Also in August 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Monaco Boys Choir, the FPCD, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports.
The Maubara Youth Center has been made possible under the auspices of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Mos Bele, a local NGO, and the Portuguese Cooperation.
This effort is coming to fruition in 2011 as the Monaco Boys Choir embarks on its one month long Asia tour which will take them to Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste. The choir will be visiting Maubara and meeting the children whom their singing has helped. The Choir will also perform a concert at the Palacio do Governo in Dili and at the opening of the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting.
The 44 Person delegation will be accompanied by adult supervisors and Mr. Sebastien Lubert, Senior Programme Office of Monaco’s Foreign Affairs Office of International Cooperation, Madame Jacky Deromedi, Honorary Consul of Monaco to Singapore and Timor-Leste, Father Joseph, Vicar of the Cathedral of Monaco, FPCD Assistant Faith Bogue and Intern Alex Townsend Drake.
The visit of the Monaco Boys Choir was greatly assisted by preferential rates offered to them by Air Timor and Hotel Timor, official sponsors.
More information about the Monaco Boys Choir can be found on their website: www.lespetitschanteurs.mc
Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco
Youth helping Youth
And strengthening the bonds of cultural exchange, friendship and cooperation
Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco (Monaco Boys Choir), a world famous all- boys choir, was officially started in 1974 under H.S.H. Prince Rainier III of Monaco. While there had been a choral group in Monaco since the 18th century, this new choir was specifically designed for boys between the ages of 9 to 15 years old to act as a way of displaying Monaco’s culture. Under the direction of Mr. Phillipe Debat the group became affectionately christened the Prince’s “little singing ambassadors.”
Following the death of Phillipe Debat in 1999, the Government appointed his son and assistant, Pierre Debat, to take over in leading the choir. Performing both in the Cathedral in Monaco and in concerts around the world, the singers act as representatives of Monaco’s rich and historical culture. Further, following in the footsteps of their Philanthropic Prince Albert II, the youth perform concerts to raise necessary awareness about important humanitarian needs.
It is in this role that the Monaco Boys Choir was able to become involved with the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD). With the initiative of Maestro Pierre Debat and under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, it was decided that a selection of the 2010 July Concert series in the United States would benefit the creation of a Youth Center. Bridging cultural divides through the creation of the Maubara Youth Center is a natural progression of Monaco’s efforts in Timor-Leste.
The choir traveled through the United States during July 2010 performing concerts from New York City to Miami. The benefit concerts took place in St. Bridget’s Church in Philadelphia, thanks to John B. Kelly III, Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., thanks to H.E. Ambassador Gilles Noghes, Monaco’s Ambassador to the USA, and in the Florida International University Wertheim Concert Hall in Miami, thanks to Monaco’s Honorary Vice Consul in Miami Tomas Abreu.
During the selected concerts, it was the honour of FPCD’s Executive Director to present a slide show about the special youth center project the Monaco Boys Choir are helping to achieve. The concerts were meant to educate the public about Timor-Leste, further strengthen the relationship between Monaco and Timor- Leste, and to bridge cultural divides through a new movement, that of youth helping youth.
Thanks to H.E. Secretary of State Agio Periera, the community of Maubara was identified and the Monaco Boys Choir wrote a letter expressing their intentions ( see below). On 29 August 2010, Mr. Pierre Debat, in company of H.E. President Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo and H.E. Secretary of State Periera, visited Maubara to meet with the community to familiarize them with the Monaco Boys Choir and to interact with the youth regarding the future Maubara Youth Center. Also in August 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Monaco Boys Choir, the FPCD, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports.
The Maubara Youth Center has been made possible under the auspices of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Mos Bele, a local NGO, and the Portuguese Cooperation.
This effort is coming to fruition in 2011 as the Monaco Boys Choir embarks on its one month long Asia tour which will take them to Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste. The choir will be visiting Maubara and meeting the children whom their singing has helped. The Choir will also perform a concert at the Palacio do Governo in Dili and at the opening of the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting.
The 44 Person delegation will be accompanied by adult supervisors and Mr. Sebastien Lubert, Senior Programme Office of Monaco’s Foreign Affairs Office of International Cooperation, Madame Jacky Deromedi, Honorary Consul of Monaco to Singapore and Timor-Leste, Father Joseph, Vicar of the Cathedral of Monaco, FPCD Assistant Faith Bogue and Intern Alex Townsend Drake.
The visit of the Monaco Boys Choir was greatly assisted by preferential rates offered to them by Air Timor and Hotel Timor, official sponsors.
More information about the Monaco Boys Choir can be found on their website: www.lespetitschanteurs.mc
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posted by Claudia Abate at 11:29 AM
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