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Draft:Brenda Vongova

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Brenda Vongova
Born
Toronto, Canada
NationalityCanadian, American
Occupation(s)International civil servant, musician, filmmaker
Known forPresident of the United Nations Chamber Music Society and the United Nations Movie Society

Brenda Vongova is a Canadian-American international civil servant, musician, and filmmaker. She is best known as the President of the United Nations Chamber Music Society (UNCMS) and the United Nations Movie Society, two cultural organizations operating under the United Nations Staff Recreation Council.

Early life and education

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Vongova was born in Toronto and studied classical piano with a Russian piano teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Music and later with Jerome Lowenthal of the Juilliard School. She later attended Harvard University, where she contributed to the Harvard Law Record[1][2][3] and Harbus newspapers, and was a member of the Harvard Piano Society.[4] Vongova is a voting member of the Recording Academy and was a special guest performer at the Recording Academy’s AAPI celebration at the NYC Grammy Townhouse in May 2025.[5]


United Nations career

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Vongova joined the Executive Office of the Secretary-General in 2015 and prepares high-level briefing materials for Secretary-General António Guterres. She previously served under former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey D. Feltman [6][7] Between 2008 and 2010 she worked in the cabinets of three consecutive Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly[8] and was later elected Treasurer of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council.

United Nations Chamber Music Society

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Vongova founded the United Nations Chamber Music Society in 2016, an organization that unites UN staff and diplomats for concerts and projects commemorating UN occasions.[9] The ensemble has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the UN General Assembly Hall, collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Festival, the New York Philharmonic[10] and Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin.[11][12]

In 2020 UNESCO profiled the ensemble in its “ResiliArt” series, noting its aim of “promoting the goals of the UN through the universal language of music.”[13]

Selected concerts and recordings

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  • International Holocaust Remembrance Day – virtual concert of works by Jewish composers (27 January 2021, 27 January 2022).[14][15][16]
  • World Arabic Language Day – live concert in Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall (17 December 2021).[17]
  • World Arabic Language Day – concert held in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Festival (18 December 2023).[18][19]
  • World Wildlife Day – virtual concert in celebration of World Wildlife Day (3 March 2023).[20][21]
  • Sir Karl Jenkins • Gloria – appearance at Carnegie Hall, New York (20 January 2025).[22]
  • Hold Your Fire – musical collaboration with Iraqi artist Kadim Al Sahir to promote global humanitarian causes, released in partnership with the UN Chamber Music Society (23 November 2023).[23][24]
  • “Music for Peace” - An initiative and album dedicated to ending violence against women and girls – honoring Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo who founded Panzi Hospital to treat survivors of sexual violence. The launch event featured messages from notable figures, including Dr. Mukwege himself, and showcased performances by renowned musicians such as pianist Jerome Lowenthal.[25]

United Nations Movie Society

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In 2024 Vongova founded the United Nations Movie Society, an internal staff club that curates film screenings and discussions on global issues.[26][27][28]


Other activities

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Outside the UN, Vongova has taught piano to visually-impaired students through the Gluck Community Service Fellowship and delivered wellness workshops for fashion and beauty brands.[29] She is certified as a Women’s Fitness Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.[30] In 2015, she was featured in Vogue magazine for her work at the United Nations and her wellness and fitness pursuits.[31]

See also

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  • United Nations
  • United Nations Chamber Music Society
  • United Nations Movie Society

References

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  1. ^ "Advice for Entertainment Lawyers from Mark Gill, Former President of Warner Independent Pictures". Harvard Law Record. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Producer Discusses Michael Clayton". Harvard Law Record. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Archived Articles by Author". Harvard Law Record. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Meet our pianists – Brenda Vongova". Harvard College Piano Society. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Recording Academy Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month With The Gold House Music Futures Alliance". GRAMMY.com. May 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  6. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society – About". UN Chamber Music Society. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  7. ^ "A UN Ensemble Whose Music Radiates Peace". PassBlue. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Presidents of the General Assembly". United Nations. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Episode 01: Brenda Vongova – United Nations Chamber Music Society". The Whole Note Podcast (Podcast). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  10. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society: Music Therapy Concert with Musicians from The New York Philharmonic". Carnegie Hall. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  11. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society Concert for Music Therapy with Jerome Lowenthal, Piano". Carnegie Hall. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  12. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society Performance of Christopher Tin's Music". United Nations. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  13. ^ "14 July UN Chamber Music Society ResiliArt Concert". UNESCO. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Concerts – UN Chamber Music Society". UN Chamber Music Society. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  15. ^ "UN Holocaust program: Not just about memory, but measures against hatred". JNS. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Holocaust Remembrance Day 2022 Schedule, Events To Commemorate the Day". Newsweek. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  17. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society Concert in Celebration of Arabic Language Day". Carnegie Hall. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  18. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society Concert in Celebration of Arabic Language Day". Abu Dhabi Festival. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  19. ^ "UN Chamber Music Society Concert in Celebration of Arabic Language Day". Carnegie Hall. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Virtual Concert in Celebration of World Wildlife Day". UN Web TV. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Virtual Concert in Celebration of World Wildlife Day". United Nations. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  22. ^ "The Music of Sir Karl Jenkins". Carnegie Hall. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Iraqi artist Kadim Al Sahir unveils 'Hold Your Fire' in alliance with the UN Chamber Music Society, championing global humanitarian causes". PR Newswire. May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Kadim Al Sahir and the UN Chamber Music Society Launch "Hold Your Fire"". Global Heroes. May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Music for Peace – UN Chamber Music Society". United Nations. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Special Movie Screening Featuring the 2025 Oscar-Winning Animated Feature Film FLOW". United Nations. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  27. ^ "Shakespeare at the UN". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Shakespeare at UNMS 2025". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Partnerships – Brenda Vongova". Vongova.com. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Travel & Fitness – Wander Woman Diaries". Wander Woman Diaries. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Vogue Feature: Brenda Vongova" (PDF). Vogue. September 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
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