Maria Dangell

I believe it is rather impossible to fully realize the complexity of the Middle East conflict without having visited Jerusalem's both Jewish and Arabic parts at least once. I think that people's most important task on the way to a peaceful coexistence is to actually apprehend that a neighbour of yours might long for peace as much as you do, break down the walls of mutual mistrust meticulously fueled by the mass media and consider that it takes the "counterpart" as much courage as it does you when lives, especially those of the loved ones, are said to be at stake. I truly believe that universal language of music can unite hearts of peace and help to annihilate the everlasting curse of war upon the matchless beauty of the Holy Land. I hope that NSL project will get ever more support and expansion, it is quite an inspiring way to get to know each other better, bring one's own experience back home which could be decisive for making a difference, against all odds.

Biography: Maria Dangell was born into a Jewish family in Tallinn, Estonia. She started to learn classical piano at the State Musical School in Tallinn at the age of seven, and eventually studied it at the Conservatoire. Her career of pianist, singer and songwriter began in early school years. She performed live on stage and in recording studios as soloist and producer of her own musical creations. She also participated in duet collaborations with Bobby Kimball (Toto) “The Heaven of Milano” and with Amedeo Minghi “La Vita Mia”, broadcasted by RAI Uno on 28 March 2009 and on 1 September 2011.

Maria has been asked to collaborate on the “Hearts of Peace in the Middle East” project, whose goal is to open people’s hearts and contribute to establishing peace in the Middle East. She sings the song “Jerusalem” (“Gerusalemme”) written by Amedeo Minghi on Vatican’s appeal. A performance of the song ( took place on 1 April 2009 in Bethlehem in presence of 1500 pilgrims and media. She discussed the project with Dr. Hans-Gert Poettering, at the time the President of the European Parliament, in 2008 and brought it to the attention of international media and political institutions in order to get heard giving a clear example of how three world religions can open a peaceful dialogue among each other.