WHAT: Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations Association (MDACA) will host its world premiere concert, “Melody for Peace – Rossini, but not only…” The goal of this special event is to promote peace and a unique bond among humanity through the universal language of music performed by artists from around the world.

Northeastern University is co-sponsoring the event.

WHO: The event will feature an original composition by Anthony Paul De Ritis, Chair of Northeastern University’s Department of Music. Titled, Melody for Peace, De Ritis’ work will showcase a dialogue between traditional, classical and contemporary music.

De Ritis, a musictechnologist and composer, has been described as a “wunderkind” by San Francisco Magazine and is internationally renowned for “widening the palette of orchestral tradition,” (The Village Voice). Hehas been the Chair of the Music Department and Director of Multimedia Studies at Northeastern University since 1998. Some of his most notable compositions have been collaborations with other international musicians that have featured a variety of traditional instruments. His interest in music and musical instruments from around the world made his composition a natural choice for the Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations Association.

The concert will also feature the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, violinist Chee-Yun (Korea), described as “…utterly magical” by Gramophone, and internationally renowned violinist and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Ino Mirkovic (Croatia), in dialogue with erhu player Guo Gan (China). They will join 20 traditional musicians from 18 countries in an effort to promote respect for cultural diversity and encourage a dialogue among civilizations.

WHEN: Monday, December 3, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

10 Lincoln Center Plaza

New York, NY 10023

Avery Fisher Hall Box Office 212-875-5030/Center Charge 212-721-6500 or, visit

http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=16432

For more information on the concert and Anthony De Ritis’ composition, please contact Renata Nyul at 617-373-7424 or at r.nyul@neu.edu.

About Northeastern

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience. The university’s distinctive cooperative education program, where students alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of paid work in fields relevant to their professional interests and major, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in six undergraduate colleges, eight graduate schools, and two part-time divisions. For more information, please visit www.northeastern.edu.