BORN to refugees who escaped Nazi Germany, Henrik Chaim Goldschmidt knows only too well the importance of peace and tolerance.
Brought up in Denmark, he became a musician and is solo oboist with the Royal Danish Orchestra – but he had another cause close to his heart.
In 2003, he launched the Middle East Peace Orchestra, bringing together musicians from Jewish and Arab traditions to work together and spread an important message.
Sitting in Birmingham’s Town Hall seven years later, 51-year-old Henrik said he always felt music was the key to bringing people together.
“It is a meeting place and a platform from which to create friendship and understanding,” he said.
“It is the alternative to being kept apart.
“Things like music, sport and art offer a place for people to be together without words – because it is when people start talking that they can pull apart.”
There’s some oboe playing at about 1:10 on this video:
