Paris, 27 November 2019. Closure ceremony of the General Conference. The UNESCO Choir performed two pieces originating from diverse musical backgrounds: the allegro from the Te Deum laudamus, by Franz Joseph Haydn, followed by “Dry your tears, Afrika”, a song written by the composer John Williams whose lyrics were adapted from a poem written by the Ivorian poet, Bernard Binlin Dadié.

The UNESCO Choir and Orchestra, now under the direction of Connie Glessner as choir master and conductor, and Cyrille Kirilov, as musical director, was founded in the early 1990s. It was formerly under the direction of maestro Jorge Lozano-Corres, who passed away in 2017.

Currently in 2022, the choir has over sixty members (UNESCO staff and retirees and external singers from NGOs and international organizations). The Choir and Orchestra traditionally performs for the General Conference and official UNESCO ceremonies. It also aims to hold at least two external concerts a year