Global Peace Concert at DG One

Sep 25 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

IT MAY be a quiet revolution but it is an extraordinary revolution, taking place on our doorstep, initiated by extraordinary people.

The World Peace Sanctuary at Allanton, north of Dumfries, hosted their second Global Peace Concert on Friday at DGOne.

The performers were a mix of high quality local talent, generally of international recognition, in the form of Wendy Stewart (harp and voice); Gary West (pipes); Nicky Spence (tenor); Clara Belle and her band (daughter of Allanton); and the Feral Choir sang while the children of Upper Nithsdale displayed a procession of colours of all the countries in the world, during the flag ceremony. Unfortunately, local talented lad, Julian Pombo (flute), was ill.

The Japanese performers were Joji Hirota, master Taiko drummer and his group of four; Hikaru Yoshiyama master concert pianist; Masayuki Kino violin virtuoso; and his 15-year-old daughter, Anna Hashimoto, winner of many awards and presently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

We were overwhelmed by excellence.

Nowhere else, in the world would we be able to experience the phenomenal quality of musicianship, all on one stage, for three and a half hours for £15, but in Dumfries and Galloway!

Make sure you go to the third Global Peace Concert next September.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.