Helen Mirren and Rosario Dawson hosted the star- studded 18th annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Sunday, December 11thin Oslo, Norway. The program begins airing nationally on public television beginning April 15th and airs on KQED 9 on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 6:00pm. Click here for additional KQED airings or check the PBS local TV listings for air times in other parts of the country.
This program features highlights from the concert event, including moving performances from Sugarland, David Gray, Jill Scott, Janelle Monáe, Evanescence, World Youth Choir and the Nobel laureates’ personal selection, Angelique Kidjo. In addition to an evening of musical entertainment, viewers will learn more about the achievements of these remarkable women and hear from each of them on-stage during the concert. See detailed Host and Artist Biographies below.
The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert honored laureates Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman, for what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called “their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” The award is given annually for work exemplifying a spirit of hope and leadership that will help promote peace in the world.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the most prestigious award in the world, honoring icons such as Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, Kofi Annan, Al Gore and other remarkable individuals and organizations. For the past seventeen years, the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony has been followed the next day by the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, a musical celebration honoring the laureate.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the most prestigious award in the world, honoring icons such as Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, Kofi Annan, Al Gore and other remarkable individuals and organizations. For the past seventeen years, the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony has been followed the next day by the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, a musical celebration honoring the laureate.
Cisco was the global sponsor of the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. The concert was presented by the Nobel Peace Prize Concert AS and produced by IMG, in cooperation with Eyeworks Dinamo.
For more information on the Nobel Peace Prize and Concert, please visit nobelpeaceprizeconcert.org
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HELEN MIRREN
Helen Mirren is one of the best known and most respected actresses with an international career that spans stage, screen and television. She has won many awards for her powerful and versatile performances, most notably the Academy Award in 2007 for her in The Queen. In television she is known for her role as DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect and most recently her Emmy award winning performance as Elizabeth 1. Mirren’s recent projects include The Last Station for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Sofya Tolstoy, the spy action movie RED, the comedy Arthur with Russell Brand and movie thrillers Brighton Rock and The Debt. Due for release next year are The Door with Hungarian director Istvan Szabo and the HBO produced film about music legend Phil Spector in which she stars with Al Pacino. Helen Mirren was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 2003.
ROSARIO DAWSON
Rosario Dawson has garnered praise not only for her numerous leading roles, but for her work with a range of influential organizations. In 2004, Dawson co-founded a non-partisan political organization called Voto Latino. Their outreach has targeted youth and helped register over 35,000 voters.
Dawson is an active board member of V-Day, an organization founded by Eve Ensler, where she travels worldwide to stop violence against women.
She also lends her time and efforts to the Lower Eastside Girls Club in Manhattan and is an ardent environmentalist doing work with a variety of organizations including the Environmental Media Association. Most notably, Dawson was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award for her valuable contributions to the community and encouragement in getting others involved.
Dawson made her film debut in KIDS and has since been seen in MEN IN BLACK II, THE 25th HOUR, SIN CITY, RENT, EAGLE EYE, SEVEN POUNDS and UNSTOPPABLE. She recently wrapped filming the Danny Boyle thriller TRANCE alongside James McAvoy and Vincent Cassel. The film is scheduled for a 2013 release.
DAVID GRAY
David Gray is not one to rest on his laurels; 12 million album sales, the best-selling album in Ireland ever with 'White Ladder,’ a BAFTA nomination for his soundtrack work on Amma Assante's 2004 film 'A Way Of Life,’ two Ivor Novellos, a Q award, two Brit nominations and a Grammy nomination.
Over the years, Gray kept up that standard. New songs galore 'lurched' from his fingers, featuring guest vocal turns from Jolie Holland and Annie Lennox. His recent album, Draw The Line, is the sound of an artist turning his lens, his camera, his vision outwards, providing an extrospective take on the world.
The album is the warm, fresh, organic sound of Gray in a new, revitalized light. He had all the success in the world, and more, but he was hungry for more – not more success, but more feeling. More heart. More soul. More songs. More life.
JANELLE MONAE
A singer, songwriter, producer and performer from Kansas City, Kansas, Janelle Monáe’s innovative style melds a redefined pop sensibility with an extraordinary mash-up of soul, funk, and rock n’ roll. Monáe’s debut album The ArchAndroid was released to widespread acclaim, earning her multiple Grammy nominations, and the Associated Press, the Guardian, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times all named the album “The #1 Album of 2010.” Monáe was also a recipient of the 2011 ASCAP Vanguard Award and was included in the first-ever Women Who Rock exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. A dynamic performer and artistic entrepreneur, Ms. Monáe has launched her own record label called the Wondaland Arts Society and performed worldwide with artistic legends such as Stevie Wonder and Prince.
JILL SCOTT
Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet and critically acclaimed actress are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light Of The Sun”, performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV Breakout Star of 2010 and appearing on VH1 Divas, the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons The Roots, Will Smith, and Common. In 2000, she released her debut record,Who is JillScott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, a double platinum album. Two more albums followed, which garnered two more Grammy Awards and spawned multiple worldwide tours.
Most recently, Jill was cast as the lead character in the HBO/BBC miniseries, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, a Peabody Award-winning show.. Scott also developed an intimates line for Ashley Stewart and founded Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation that has raised over hundreds of thousands dollars to support minority students pursuing college degrees.
SUGARLAND
After winning multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM awards—and selling more than eight million records—the country-music duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush is embracing a musical awakening that permeates their adventurous fourth album, The Incredible Machine.
Co-written and co-produced in full by the duo, Kristian describes it as a collection of anthems—and there may be no greater understatement. If the duo was searching for the grander side of country on their last record, the double platinum Love on the Inside, they’ve obviously found it on The Incredible Machine. From the fanfare of the album’s opener “All We Are” to Jennifer’s sublime piano-ballad “Shine the Light,” this is an album built for stadiums.
Sugarland is confident that fans, old and new alike, will have a similar experience as they discover The Incredible Machine—a country record, a pop record, an anthem record, a ballad record, but above all, an authentic record.
WORLD YOUTH CHOIR
The World Youth Choir is one of the most original and important choirs today. Comprised of young singers between the ages of 18 and 30 from different nationalities, the World Youth Choir is a remarkable educational and social experience through different vocal traditions at the highest artistic level.
The World Youth Choir is an original social and artistic project, organised by the Foundation World Youth Choir, Den Haag, the Netherlands. Artistically speaking, it is a unique experience for young singers to develop their musical talents by interacting with internationally recognized conductors and challenging repertoires in a professional level. Socially speaking, the World Youth Choir contributes to the raising of new generations of “Citizens of the World.” Additionally, many countries represented by the singers in the choir and by the music in the repertoire, emphasize the World Youth Choir as a school of understanding between different cultures, people, music and traditions.
ANGELIQUE KIDJO
Grammy Winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with eleven albums to her name. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva". The BBC has included her in its list of the continent's 50 most iconic figures and in 2011 the Guardian listed her as one of their “Top 100 Most Inspiring Women” in the World. Furthermore, Forbes Magazine has just ranked Angelique as the first woman on their list of the Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa.
Born in the West African state of Benin, Kidjo is a tireless campaigner for women’s health and education in Africa, a UNICEF international Goodwill Ambassador and a prolific songwriter. Kidjo campaigns for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, as well as her own organization, Batonga Foundation, which provides African girls with an education.
EVANESCENCE
Evanescence has sold more than 20 million records worldwide, won two Grammys® with their debut Fallen and a Grammy® nomination with their second album, The Open Door. Propelling the band to sales of more than 15 million albums worldwide, Fallen spent more than 100 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, was certified gold or platinum in over 35 countries, and sold out arenas globally.
Following a three-year sabbatical after the worldwide success of their sophomore effort, Evanescence recorded its third studio album with producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose recent credits include Foo Fighters, RUSH, Stone Sour, Deftones and Alice in Chains.
The inherent drama in Evanescence’s music has resonated with listeners everywhere. The music forges a connection with audiences searching for identity or struggling with feelings of desire, hope love and loss. The band has only just begun to make its mark on the music world.