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This Friday, October 10, Margaux Vellucci ’16 will perform Tchaikovsky’s Nocturne in D minor at the Day of the Girl Summit at the United Nations in New York City.

Margaux’s story of female empowerment through music was selected by the International Day of the Girl (IDG) committee to be showcased at the 2nd Annual Girls Speak Out event from 3 to 5 p.m. Other performances at the United Nations will include poetry, songs, and stories depicting girls’ resilience when faced with gender discrimination and difficult circumstances.

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

Margaux Vellucci on the piano

“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. 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 October 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.”

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