Leading conductor becomes Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF

One of the world’s most renowned conductors, Myung-Whun Chung, has become a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

At a ceremony this week in Paris, Mr. Chung – who is director of Radio-France’s Philharmonic Orchestra – was appointed an Ambassador, the agency said in a press release. The conductor has already been an ambassador for UNICEF France since September last year.

Mr. Chung said he was honoured by his new role. “We musicians have the same goal as UNICEF,” he said. “UNICEF works to provide children with education and care and to ensure that their rights are respected. For us musicians, music is not just a right – it can help improve a child’s development and education, as well as allowing them to dream.”

Jacques Hintzy, the President of UNICEF’s French national committee, said Mr. Chung made music accessible to everyone.

“A message of hope and future for all children is delivered through the core of this project mastered by a prestigious conductor and orchestra,” he said.

During the ceremony on Monday the Radio-France Philharmonic Orchestra played the Concerto for Orchestra by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók.

Mr. Chung joins a host of other high-profile Goodwill Ambassadors for UNICEF, including the tennis player Roger Federer, the singer Ricky Martin, the actress Vanessa Redgrave, the pianist Lang Lang, the actor Amitabh Bachchan, the soccer player David Beckham and the musician Femi Kuti.