July 10, 2026 — The United Nations Staff Recreation Council Singers presented its Summer Concert 2026 on Friday evening at The Church of St. Monica in New York City. Featuring songs from around the world performed in their original languages, the concert showcased diverse cultural traditions and promoted cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and unity through music.
Ms.Paula Serrano the President of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council Choir, Mr.Guillermo Vaisman Argentine conductor, and a choir member working at UNFPA were interviewed by Celebrity Media.
The concert began at 6:45 p.m. at the church, located at 413 East 79th Street in Manhattan. The performance was conducted by Guillermo Vaisman, the ensemble’s Argentina-born music director and choir conductor. New York-based Chinese pianist Ming Jin served as accompanist. Carlo Zenarosa was the assistant conductor, Erica Gaston served as section leader, and Florencia de Castro appeared as soloist.
The program spanned Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, reflecting the international character of the United Nations community. The concert opened with the Kenyan piece “Bwana Ni Nani Atakayekaa?”, followed by the Italian work “Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna,” the Scottish and Irish folk song “Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?”, and the Japanese song “Oboro Zukiyo.”
Other selections included the Cuban piece “Son de Camagüey,” the American folk song “Shenandoah,” the Peruvian song “Estrellita del Sur,” and the Italian works “Non Potho Reposare” and “Appunti Andalusi.” The choir also performed “Sing Me to Heaven” by American composer Daniel Gawthrop and “My Soul Is a River” by Ben Allaway.
The European classical choral section featured “Cantique de Jean Racine” by French composer Gabriel Fauré and “Abendlied” by German composer Josef Gabriel Rheinberger. Later in the program, the ensemble presented the Swahili folk song “Bwana Awabariki,” from Tanzania and Kenya, and concluded with the Filipino song “Minamahal Kita,” meaning “I Love You.”
Music Director Guillermo Vaisman, originally from Entre Ríos, Argentina, is a New York-based arranger, accordionist, and founder of several musical ensembles. He studied at the Julián Aguirre and Juan José Castro conservatories and at the Universidad Argentina in Buenos Aires, later conducting at some of Argentina’s most prestigious venues, including Teatro Colón.
Vaisman has led the United Nations Singers since 2004. In 2012, he founded Cappella Sur, a vocal ensemble devoted to South American and Spanish-language repertoire. He is also the founder of Mate Amargo and the accordion-violin duo Viento. As an accordionist, he is active in New York’s tango scene and has performed in the United States, Japan, and other countries. He has conducted more than 900 concerts worldwide and served as artistic director and producer of the first Cappella Sur International Choir Festival in New York City in 2024.
Accompanist Ming Jin is a classical pianist based in New York. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Mannes School of Music, where he developed a strong foundation in chamber music and collaborative performance. He is dedicated to creating expressive performances that connect meaningfully with audiences.
A defining feature of the evening was the choir’s commitment to performing songs in their original languages. By bringing together different languages, melodies, and cultural traditions on one stage, the concert demonstrated the power of music to transcend national, ethnic, and linguistic boundaries. The performance was warmly received and concluded with thunderous applause from the audience.
