Moorestown Friends School Student to Perform at United Nations on Friday

A junior at the Moorestown Friends School will perform at the United Nations in New York this week.

Margaux Vellucci will perform Tchaikovsky’s Nocturne in D minor at the Day of the Girl Summit at the United Nations in New York City, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Vellucci’s story of female empowerment through music was selected by the International Day of the Girl (IDG) committee to be showcased at the second annual Girls Speak Out event.

Vellucci is a member of the Alice Paul Institute Girls Advisory Council, which convenes at Alice Paul’s home in Mount Laurel.

After receiving an email from the Council this summer asking for submissions, she submitted a video of herself playing Nocturne.

She received a message from the IDG Summit in August notifying her that she had been selected.

“Anyone can read the notes and play them, but I feel, as a girl, that I can bring a special emotion to it that can really touch the audience during my performance,” Vellucci said in a statement issued by Moorestown Friends School on Wednesday. “I try to think of things happening in my life that I can bring to my piece to connect with it. Someone in my life passed away, so I think about that while I’m playing.”

The Day of the Girl Summit brings girls and girl-serving organizations together to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child. recognized each year on Oct. 11 by the United Nations.

In honor of the Day of the Girl, activist groups come together in service of the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere.

The goal is to address the unique challenges girls face around the world. For its second observance, this year’s Day will focus on “Innovating for Girls’ Education.”

Other performances at the United Nations will include poetry, songs, and stories depicting girls’ resilience when faced with gender discrimination and difficult circumstances.

To learn more, please visit dayofthegirlsummit.org, dayofthegirl.org or follow these hashtags on Twitter: #IDG2014, #11MonthsofAction, #11DaysofAction, #GirlsSpkOut, #Webcast, and #itsaGirlThing.

The attached photo of Margaux Vellucci was provided by Moorestown Friends School