Madrid Concert Raises Funds for Nepal

The Spanish chapters of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and Universal Peace Federation (UPF) organized a charity concert to benefit those affected by the April 25 earthquake in Nepal.

A group of artists came together especially for the concert, which took place on May 29, 2015, in Madrid: Antonio Enzan Olias, a musician who is knowledgeable about Vedic chants, khoomei (Tuvan throat singing) and shakuhachi (a Japanese flute); Raul Balbuena, who performed on the bansuri (South Asian flute) and percussion instruments; Kaveh Sarvarian, an expert in the Persian ney (flute) and tombak (drum); Antonio Berdones, who played the transverse flute; Ernesto Schmied with flutes and electronics; and Radia Moraleda Sánchez, who sang and also played the tambura (stringed instrument) and khomus (jaw harp). The poetess Verónica Aranda read some of the poems that she wrote during the period she lived in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

The mantras, Vedic hymns, songs from Nepal, Persian music, Tuvan chants and Japanese music all were interpreted in a solemn way with the desire of consoling the souls of those who had lost their lives during the earthquake and the heart of those who survived, but whose lives were left dispossessed of family, housing and possessions.

The fundraising event also included a bazaar of gourmet foods.

All the benefits were sent to the Women’s Federation for World Peace in Nepal, via the International Relief Friendship Foundation (an affiliated organization).