UNRocks is a band made up of
diplomats
A diplomat (from ; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state, intergovernmental, or nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or international organizations.
The main functions of diplomats a ...
of the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
including
Simona Miculescu
Simona-Mirela Miculescu (born 4 July 1959) is a Romanian diplomat, currently serving as Permanent Delegate of Romania to UNESCO, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and President of the 42nd session of the General Confe ...
(
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
), Guillermo Rishchynski (
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
),
Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima (
Cape Verde
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about . These islands ...
),
Eduardo Ulibarri (
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...
), and
Marlene Moses (
Nauru
Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies within the Micronesia subregion of Oceania, with its nearest neighbour being Banaba (part of ...
). The band collaborates with award-winning composer Gary Fry.
History
In 2012, Her Excellency,
Simona Miculescu
Simona-Mirela Miculescu (born 4 July 1959) is a Romanian diplomat, currently serving as Permanent Delegate of Romania to UNESCO, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and President of the 42nd session of the General Confe ...
, former Romanian Ambassador to the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, founded a band with fellow diplomats and musicians, H.E. Guillermo Rishchynski (
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
), H.E.
Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima (
Cape Verde
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about . These islands ...
),
Eduardo Ulibarri (
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...
), and H.E.
Marlene Moses (
Nauru
Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies within the Micronesia subregion of Oceania, with its nearest neighbour being Banaba (part of ...
), representing Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific Islands. In September 2013, the band released their first album, “Ambassadors Sing for Peace,“ with arrangements and artistic direction by Emmy Award-winning composer Gary Fry, and support from the
SAE Institute
The SAE Institute (SAE) and SAE University College (in Australia), formerly the School of Audio Engineering and the SAE Technology College and badged SAE Creative Media Education, is a network of colleges around the world that provides creativ ...
. The debut album includes covers of iconic songs including “What a Wonderful World,” “Heal the World,” and “Imagine.”
In 2015, the band was officially named UNRocks, and comprises H.E. Simona Miculescu (lead singer)
Ambassador Ib Petersenof
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
(guitar)
Ambassador Oh Joonof the
Republic of Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
(drums)
Ambassador Milan Milanovicof
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
(guitar) and Ambassador
Virachai Plasai of
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
(guitar and keyboard). In December 2015, in commemoration of the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
70th Anniversary, they released a new single, “Strong UN, Better World,”
and recorded a new cover of
Status Quo’s “Rockin' All Over the World,” with artistic direction from award winning composer Gary Fry.
References
{{United Nations
Musical groups established in 2013
United Nations in popular culture