Exclusive Interview by Kim Syphrett

October 12, 2009

Kimberly Syphrett: What is your Mission Statement?

Annick Elziere: The purpose of the One World Music Festival is to promote the unity of cultures, races, and religions. In doing so, we encourage communities to come together in a celebration of music and arts. We understand that coming together as one human family has been an historical challenge; but, we also understand that this generation, this period of time in history, is unlike any other.  

The 21 st Century humanity has all the means, through education, travel, communication, media and technology, to produce what has never been produced before: Peace. The One World Music Festival is our contribution to humanity defined by principles of unity and justice. The One World Music Festival is proof that anyone can contribute to the possibility of peace on the planet when the dream and the desire are there. There has never been a better time in the world to remember the human in humanity. Supporting independent artists, talented writers, singers and performers of all sorts of different backgrounds, is vital to the well being of our society. Music uplifts any soul. Don't you think so?

We encourage you to support our mission by joining us to support the OWMF as a friend, patron, donor or sponsor. 

Kimberly Syphrett: I believe that Music soothes our Soul and refreshes our Spirit. What about your Vision Statement?

Annick Elziere: Thanks for asking, Kim. Here is a short sample of my vision:

- A "One World Music Festival" to promote human development through Music and the Arts 

- A "One World Music Festival" to value the Arts as a form of Expression and Development 

- A "One World Music Festival" to encourage its Local and Worldwide audience to focus on Unity 

- A "One World Music Festival" to Support Performing Artists playing for peace 

- A "One World Music Festival" for people of All Ages and Backgrounds  

A non-stop 3-day music festival featuring musicians from all around the world coming together with all forms of music; Choirs, Jazz, Reggae, Blues, Folk, Rock Roll, Rap/Hip-Hop, Children’s, Latin American, Native American, Ancient, Persian, Flamenco, Celtic, and Classical... We would be embracing all sounds.

Kimberly Syphrett: What are you trying to accomplish with this huge project. What is your goal?

​Annick Elziere:  The goal of the festival is to delight real people, participating in the real world, playing, listening, and singing real music. The OWMF is not a celebration of celebrity and glamour but a celebration of people from all backgrounds, their communities, and their contributions particularly as expressed through music and the arts. In fact, music and the arts are not only ways in which people express themselves or their values but also the ways in which they inspire, connect with, and communicate with others in such a way as to create values, attitudes, modes of behavior and ways of life that have their roots in the meaningfulness and sacred joy of human life, purpose, effort, challenge, crisis, and triumph.

Kimberly Syphrett: Is there any ​Slogan/Hook:?

Annick Elziere: I was thinking of “Real People, Real World”

​Kimberley Syphrett: How it began. The OWMF began with “One Woman, One World, One Vision: The One World Music Festival”. The One World Music Festival was a burgeoning idea in 2004 when Annick Elziere, dreamt of and, then, produced the 2004 New Jersey Independent Music Festival in Mercer County, NJ, USA near Princeton University. Her love of music and for humanity prompted her to envision an even larger concert that celebrated “the oneness of humanity” and the understanding that we share a common planetary homeland.   ​ 

​Kimberley Syphrett:  Why a concert for the whole world? 

​Annick Elziere: “Music brings joy to my heart and I think it does to everyone else so it makes sense to create a music festival for everyone but not just for one group of people. This is a family affair, everyone must be involved and the more involved the more it will fulfill its purpose. 

Music uplifts the hearts and helps us become more creative and in the process much happier.  When music and the arts are involved in our lives, there is no time left to disagree with one another because it takes you to another world, a real world, a world of peace. 

Music does not divide people; it brings them together and helps them connect. Distance no longer exists as we are all connected thanks to the Internet. We are one big human family whether we accept it or not. It seems to me that it is time for people to mature and embrace anyone who thinks differently just because they were raised one way and not another one. No one is right, no one is wrong. We are one. 

A music festival always brought people together helping them to surrender to peace. The best part of all is that you don’t have to be a musician to get involved but just love humanity and good sound to make your mind dance. I am not a musician but the idea of combining music, the arts and people feels just right. It brings me energy and I hope it will do the same to others, too. It seems to be the perfect recipe for world peace because it does not matter what language you speak at home. It is heard by everyone. So, if the “One World Music Festival” can teach peace to mankind and help each one of us think outside the box and get into action then that’s what I want to do. This is what I love to do. That is what I am doing.”  

Kimberley Syphrett:  Why the “one world” theme? ​ 

Annick Elziere: “There is only one world and one people so it makes sense to make a festival for all people of different cultures, races, religions and to help everyone come together; combine their efforts for a more productive world and bring about change.” My specialty is ‘One World’. I cannot leave anyone behind. This is not about me but a World of Peace by Real People for a Real World.

~end~

Note: An interview by my dearest friend, Kim Syphrett. Kim was 4 months away from her 50th birthday when she passed away on July 6, 2020 in New London, Connecticut. ​Kim is a beautiful soul who moved on to a more spiritual world. She struggled with sickle cell anemia and racism. Kim is/was pure love, and would always end her messages with 'love, love...'  Her memory feels like home to me. She never left...  “Love in its essence is spiritual fire.” 

~2009~