The talented Joanne Shenandoahwill be on the radio show “Winds of Change” today, Thursday April 26th at 11:30 AM, PST with Janine Bandcroft in Victoria British Columbia.
Joanne will be speaking at length about her involvement with Project Peace On Earth and the recent concert and visitation trip she made with that organization to Jerusalem, Palestine.
“New Collaboration Brings Hope of World Peace through Music-
Kenji Williams, BELLA GAIA, Joins Project Peace on Earth”
(released by Thunderbird Public Relations)
Internationally acclaimed musician and film maker, Kenji Williams, BELLA GAIA Founder, Composer, and Director, has been announced as the newest member of the Musical Ambassador team for the global peace organization, Project Peace on Earth.
Led by Steve Robertson, its Founder, Executive Producer & CEO, Project Peace on Earth LLC (PPOE) is a Los Angeles-based organization committed to bringing greater individual and collective world peace through sacred music concerts and other peace efforts on a global scale.
“I am extremely honored to be a part of such an incredible group of artists, producers, scholars, scientists, healers, and writers. Some of these artists have already changed my life,” stated Kenji Williams in response to his being included as a Musical Ambassador for PPOE.
PPOE recently held a concert at the Bethlehem Convention Palace in Bethlehem, Palestine that brought thousands of people together live, and tens of millions from every nation and faith through the full concert broadcast which benefitted UNRWA and Palestinian Refugee Youth.
“Sacred Music is the most profound and expedient way to touch the heart and create a direct communion with the Divine. The mission of Project Peace on Earth concert series is to deliver the most spiritually authentic musical experiences so that people are inspired to discover their inner most life calling and courageously act on it towards the overall goal of individual and world peace,” explains Steve Robertson.
Kenji Williams is an award winning filmmaker, music producer, and classically-trained violinist. Blending music, visual arts, science and philosophy, BELLA GAIA, which means “Beautiful Earth,” simulates space flight and displays the captivating beauty of planet Earth as seen through the eyes of astronauts.
Williams, in collaboration with NASA, brings this live performance against a large-screen backdrop of orbiting visualizations of the Earth as seen from space. Using multiple art forms, Kenji Williams and the other artists in BELLA GAIA, strive to transform the beliefs held by audience members about the planet.
“Our entire reality – seen and unseen, here on Earth, and throughout the Universe, is composed of vibration and energy. Art, and especially music, uses vibration to open a portal to these powerful forces. I believe we have the potential to be closest to spirit when we are at ease (at peace), and aligned with this vibration and energy,” comments Mr. Williams.
Kenji Williams has collaborated with Trance group, Medicine Drum, world famous DJ, John Digweed, visionary painter Alex Grey, and evolutionary philosopher Ken Wilber. His work has appeared at The Gates Planetarium Dome Theater (Denver Museum of Nature and Science), large music festivals around the world, mainstream television, and used for exotic fashion shows at Japanese Temples. Additionally, Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sony corporations have sponsored Williams with technology to support his artistic vision. Combining unique skills in film and music, Williams has earned international film awards from the CSC to Sundance, and exhibited work at the Smithsonian Institute.
Invoking unity and shared concern for the world by displaying the extraordinary beauty and connectedness of the planet through musical live performances are at the heart of both Project Peace on Earth and BELLA GAIA. The live concerts and worldwide telecast from Bethlehem are the first of many planned concert events, TV, and film content, centered on the subjects of personal transformation and world peace. PPOE aims to bring superstar musicians, performing inspiring and sacred music, to some of the worlds’ most sacred sites.
“With Steve Robertson’s vision, I feel that our collaboration of such talent devoted to peace, will create a true and meaningful impact with repercussions well beyond the events. I look forward to collaborating and contributing my compositions, film work, and live performance to the Project Peace on Earth,” explained Williams.
“The vision of BELLA GAIA is to bring the power of art, technology, space science, and real scientific data visualizations together, into a context that is both entertaining and educational, fused with a common goal of raising the awareness and appreciation of our home planet. BELLA GAIA can actually visually display how humans are affecting the planet, and how each element affects the other, allowing the audience to easily understand the delicate interconnected balance of our planet.
BELLA GAIA™ is a powerful entertainment and educational outreach vehicle for performing arts centers, festivals, planetariums, universities, government agencies and other institutions that wish to convey a broader world view that the destiny of humans and our planet Earth are inextricably linked. Often received with standing ovations, BELLA GAIA has been featured at top festivals such as the Smithsonian Folklife/NASA festival, 13 NASA events, COP15 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, The Economist Magazine’s “World in 2011” conference, and to sold-out shows at digital planetariums. BELLA GAIA has delighted audiences from Europe to the USA to Japan, and has proven to engage a wide demographic from 3 year-olds, to students, to heads of government agencies.
“Middle East Transformation – A concert of sacred music in Bethlehem offers world peace”
LOS ANGELES, California- January 24, 2012- Wishing for global peace and taking action on making it a reality is a vastly different thing but on Christmas Day, 2011, a stunning array of the entertainment industries’ finest gathered in Bethlehem, Palestine, to do just that. Project Peace on Earth delivered a featured song during the Christmas Eve Day celebrations held directly in front of the Church of the Nativity and across from a Mosque in Manger Square, Bethlehem. On Christmas Day, the organization put on a globally televised concert at the Bethlehem Convention Palace, located next to the famed Solomon Pools.
Project Peace on Earth LLC (PPOE) is a Los Angeles-based organization, and the result of 25 years’ worth of passion and effort on behalf of Steve Robertson, its Founder, Executive Producer & CEO. Robertson, who is driven to bring greater individual and collective world peace, has gathered some of the top transformational musicians, entertainment industry producers, leaders from higher education and personal development authors, amongst many others, in order to bring these concerts and other peace efforts from conception to reality on a global scale.
“Sacred Music is the most profound and expedient way to touch the heart and create a direct communion with the Divine. The mission of Project Peace on Earth concert series is to deliver the most spiritually authentic musical experiences so that people are inspired to discover their inner most life calling and courageously act on it towards the overall goal of individual and world peace,” explains Robertson.
The live concerts and worldwide telecast from Bethlehem are the first of many planned concert events, TV, and film content, centered on the subjects of personal transformation and world peace. PPOE aims to bring superstar musicians, performing inspiring and sacred music, to some of the worlds’ most sacred sites.
“We will plant a musical seed of love, peace and compassion that will forever uplift the heart and raise the spiritual vibration of the people. Beginning in the Middle East and then around our world, the mission is to bring the possibility of a state of greater compassion, forgiveness, love and oneness. Ultimately, we will show that peace is profitable,” Steve Robertson said.
The musical artists that performed in Bethlehem included Joanne Shenandoah, a Grammy winning Native American singer and her daughter Leah, both of whom performed on Jonathan Elias’s new Prayer Cycle album entitled “Path to Zero.” Gary Nicholson, the Grammy winning Texas Hall of Fame song writer, also performed. Hani Naser, the world renowned Jordanian percussionist and oud player and Fox Lima, co-composer and vocalist of Enigma MXX Social Song, rounded out this stunning list of performers.
Peter Joseph, famed for the “Zeitgeist Film Series,” produced video segments for the broadcast. Rutger Hauer, famed “Blade Runner” actor, and Shaun Monson, director of the films “Earthlings” and “Unity,” also produced a video for the concert telecast.
The shows’ live satellite telecast, directed by Marc Scarpa, was sent to tens of millions of homes worldwide through Melli TV/MTC and other broadcast carriers. As well, viewers accessed the program via live-streaming, also directed by Scarpa, who has served previously as the Producer / Director for “40th Anniversary of Earth Day,” “Tibetan Freedom Festival,” and “X-Factor” digital.
Serving as the Director of Social and Digital Media and working with Scarpa, was Kent Speakman, of the ENGAGEIA Agency. Speakman worked on the project that allowed millions of viewers’ access to connect via social media platforms in conjunction with Scarpa’s live television satellite broadcast coverage of the event. Viewers were able to watch the event live on Facebook by integration of the Live Stream channel embedded into the page. The full program is available for viewing at any time by visiting www.projectpeaceonearth.org
This first concert in Bethlehem brought thousands of people together live, and tens of millions from every nation and faith through the full concert broadcast which benefitted UNRWA and Palestinian Refugee Youth. The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship support of VisitPalestine, the Convention Palace Bethlehem, Consolidated Construction Corporation, NeTours and the Ambassador Hotel, the Swiss Government and the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Brian Thomas noted concert production manager, Sami Khoury of ABS Marketing, Fritz Froehlich of the Swiss Govt. and UNRWA, George Bassous of the Bethlehem Convention Palace and Steve Robertson formed the core of the production team and efforts.
PPOE brought a star-studded cast of talented people to this worldwide concert and also took important steps towards the promotion of inner and world peace in a region where peace is deeply hoped for and not yet realized.
Several other PPOE events are planned for this coming year in the Middle East and continuing forward globally.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Wishing for global peace and taking action on making it a reality is a vastly different thing but on Christmas Day, 2011, a stunning array of the entertainment industries’ finest gathered in Bethlehem, Palestine, to do just that. Project Peace on Earth delivered a featured song during the Christmas Eve Day celebrations held directly in front of the Church of the Nativity and across from a Mosque in Manger Square, Bethlehem. On Christmas Day, the organization put on a globally televised concert at the Bethlehem Convention Palace, located next to the famed Solomon Pools.
Project Peace on Earth LLC (PPOE) is a Los Angeles-based organization, and the result of 25 years’ worth of passion and effort on behalf of Steve Robertson, its Founder, Executive Producer & CEO. Robertson, who is driven to bring greater individual and collective world peace, has gathered some of the top transformational musicians, entertainment industry producers, leaders from higher education and personal development authors, amongst many others, in order to bring these concerts and other peace efforts from conception to reality on a global scale.
“Sacred Music is the most profound and expedient way to touch the heart and create a direct communion with the Divine. The mission of Project Peace on Earth concert series is to deliver the most spiritually authentic musical experiences so that people are inspired to discover their inner most life calling and courageously act on it towards the overall goal of individual and world peace,” explains Robertson.
The live concerts and worldwide telecast from Bethlehem are the first of many planned concert events, TV, and film content, centered on the subjects of personal transformation and world peace. PPOE aims to bring superstar musicians, performing inspiring and sacred music, to some of the worlds’ most sacred sites.
“We will plant a musical seed of love, peace and compassion that will forever uplift the heart and raise the spiritual vibration of the people. Beginning in the Middle East and then around our world, the mission is to bring the possibility of a state of greater compassion, forgiveness, love and oneness. Ultimately, we will show that peace is profitable,” Steve Robertson said.
The musical artists that performed in Bethlehem included Joanne Shenandoah, a Grammy winning Native American singer and her daughter Leah, both of whom performed on Jonathan Elias’s new Prayer Cycle album entitled “Path to Zero.” Gary Nicholson, the Grammy winning Texas Hall of Fame song writer, also performed. Hani Naser, the world renowned Jordanian percussionist and oud player and Fox Lima, co-composer and vocalist of Enigma MXX Social Song, rounded out this stunning list of performers.
Peter Joseph, famed for the “Zeitgeist Film Series,” produced video segments for the broadcast. Rutger Hauer, famed “Blade Runner” actor, and Shaun Monson, director of the films “Earthlings” and “Unity,” also produced a video for the concert telecast.
The shows’ live satellite telecast, directed by Marc Scarpa, was sent to tens of millions of homes worldwide through Melli TV/MTC and other broadcast carriers. As well, viewers accessed the program via live-streaming, also directed by Scarpa, who has done likewise with the “40th Anniversary of Earth Day,” “Tibetan Freedom Festival,” and “ X-Factor” digital.
Serving as the Director of Social and Digital Media and working with Scarpa, was Kent Speakman, of the ENGAGEIA Agency. Speakman worked on the project that allowed millions of viewers’ access to connect via social media platforms in conjunction with Scarpa’s live television satellite broadcast coverage of the event. Viewers were able to watch the event live on Facebook by integration of the Live Stream channel embedded into the page. The full program is available for viewing at any time by visiting www.projectpeaceonearth.org
This first concert in Bethlehem brought thousands of people together live, and tens of millions from every nation and faith through the full concert broadcast which benefitted UNRWA and Palestinian Refugee Youth. The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship support of VisitPalestine, the Convention Palace Bethlehem, Consolidated Construction Corporation, NeTours and the Ambassador Hotel, the Swiss Government and the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
PPOE brought a star-studded cast of talented people to this worldwide concert and also took important steps towards the promotion of inner and world peace in a region where peace is deeply hoped for and not yet realized.
Several other PPOE events are planned for this coming year in the Middle East and continuing forward globally.
They Call Her ‘Songbird’-Behind the Scenes with Joanne Shenandoah
by Shelley Bluejay Pierce, Thunderbird Public Relations for Native American Times
A grandmother waved her over after a concert to tell her that the Inuit believe songs are carried over the ice from the Ancestors’ land by the birds.
“She called me a song bird and said that birds bring their songs to me. She could envision where my songs came from. They come from beautiful places,” explained Joanne Shenandoah.
In this interview with Native American Times, Joanne Shenandoah speaks to some of her personal and cultural history that’s guided her to becoming one of the most beloved and awarded Native recording artists in history. Here, she shares from her heart about what has motivated, inspired, and kept her focused on giving to the world community for many decades.
NAT- Your music draws on Native tradition and you sing in the Oneida language. Your words may be unfamiliar to some listeners, but the music has global approval. What do you feel the reason for this is?
Joanne- The vibration of music touches the soul and hearts of people. Music has been called the ‘universal language’ and speaks to us all. While I was in Istanbul, the call to prayer was a constant reminder throughout the land, and affected me although I did not understand the words. Music in different languages is vibrations of sound that bring us to a place of celebration or enlightenment.
A great artist, A. Paul Ortega, a Mescalero Apache Medicine man, once told me that I should never refuse to sing, as my voice will bring people together in a place which may never be otherwise together because of my gift. This is what I aim to do through my music. I have received so many letters and emails from people around the globe whose lives are positively affected by my music. What a blessing!
NAT- You recently participated in a concert held in Bethlehem on Christmas, 2011 with Steve Robertson’s, “Project Peace on Earth” (http://www.projectpeaceonearth.org/) that served as a global, musical prayer for peace. This must have been a life-changing event for you as you performed live on Christmas Eve at Manger Square, directly in front of the Church of the Nativity and across from a Mosque. On Christmas Day, you performed in the full “Project Peace on Earth” concert at the Bethlehem Convention Palace which is next to the famed Solomon Pools. Bringing thousands of people together live, and tens of millions from every nation and faith through the full concert broadcast, is a powerful experience. How did this concert and visit to the region impact you?
Joanne- Several thousand people were at Manger Square on Christmas Eve day and it was a moving experience to sing and share the message of peace. I was blessed to gift the Iroquois Hiawatha Belt to the minister of Tourism and Women’s Affairs of Palestine, Dr. Khouloud Diabes. I told her this flag represented Hiawatha, one of our prophets of peace. At a special dinner held for our delegation, I was given opportunity to explain to her in detail about how our Peacemaker brought the message of peace to the Iroquois through forgiveness.
It was with sacred respect that I visited the birthplace of Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane and was so moved to sing an Iroquois Women’s song with my daughter Leah in the church of Mary Magdalena in Jerusalem. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26usZUTvQXk)
Going to the Holy Land was an adventure that I never knew was in my future, but it affected me greatly. Since I’ve had a chance to sing and dance with the Aborigines in Australia, with the Buddhists and traditional people of Korea, chant and dance with African women in Cape Town, I have come to realize that each culture has their form of worship along with their prophets of peace.
NAT- What are your plans for 2012 and what priorities do you feel we need to place before us as a global and united human race?
Joanne- I believe that a lot of people live in fear of the future. 2012 represents a transition to many people and our prophecies tell us that we will continue to survive as human beings. The key to survival will be the ability to live within sustainable societies which secure balance between basic human resource needs and the rights of other species. The Iroquois have a constitutional obligation to do nothing that causes harm which qualifies the rights of the unborn to clean water, fertile land and clear skies. To achieve this, the Iroquois incorporate the rights of others- from the earth to water, insects, animals, plants and trees-all have legal standing which must be respected.
NAT- You have recently gone out on your own and taken creative control of your music. What benefits has that brought you as an artist?
Joanne- “Lifegivers” is my first independent recording from start to finish. Creative management of the actual recording allows me to have direct control in respect to the buyers and then reaching the fans that have purchased my recordings in the past. I am honored to have been involved with helping to bring about the first Native American Music Awards through Ellen Bello. I am much honored to hold 13 Nammys which is the most any Native artist has received to date. It is wonderful seeing so many artists involved now and many of them are independent.
NAT- I know that you care deeply about the women- their growth and positive movement forward and your newest CD, “Lifegivers” is a testament to your honoring the entire lifecycle that women evolve through. Tell us what motivated this recording?
Joanne- “Lifegivers” pays tribute to the life cycles of women and each song is meant to celebrate the cycle of life. It has been my great honor to be embraced by many women of the world! The Iroquois hold that every human being is a remarkable gift of life, experience and creativity from the spiritual world. Each being has specific abilities and talents which must be nurtured by the extended family. Communal stability and peace is realized when children are free to explore the world and apply their talents without coercion or qualification. I have written songs to my daughter Leah and to other women directly in respect to our love, peace, and the commitments we hold to our children by helping them realize their dreams.
Ever since my daughter Leah was born, I have been began singing to her. Now, she is a magnificent singer and has been blessed with a golden voice. Her first recording will be out this year. I am so very proud to be her mother. She is a Cum Laude Graduate of Syracuse University and has her Master’s Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. (www.leahshenandoah.com)
NAT- What is your wish for future generations?
Joanne- My biggest wish is that all people will have clean air, water, and fertile land to grow their food, sing their songs and dance their dances. I hope that people awaken, stand up and be counted, and they will love their children so much that they will care for the earth and use their Creator-given gifts to do so. I will continue my efforts to bring music that lifts the spirit and heals the soul.
Thunderbird Public Relations 