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JOHN KEEN
John Keen (artistic name), also known as Juan Keen from Argentina is an orchestra and choir director, pianist, music educator, ontological coach, and neurolinguistic programming therapist (NLP). He specializes in Brain Integration Technique, scenic panic and oratory fear, among other disciplines. John received and pre-selected of more than fifteen scholarships awarded by different national and international institutions.
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During 2005 and 2006, he was awarded a scholarship from (teacher) Bruno Gelber, after being evaluated by Ligia Amadio, teacher director, and Brazilian Symphony Orchestra Director. One of three prestigious in the world. He continued orchestral direction studies with Guillermo Scarabino, in the Buenos Aires Province (events published in the newspaper: La Nación, de Buenos Aires, Río Negro, radio and television media). During the same year, he was a director in the music cathedra to the Instrumental Assemble - Amadeus. Currently, after more than fifteen years of uninterrupted work in various Christian regional communities, training musicians in choirs and instrumental assembles. John
dedicates his work as the president, founder, musical, artistic director, choir and orchestra for the non-profit civil organization director - Amadeus, Solidary and Community Art. At the same, he guides all his professional activity to cultural developing for integration and social inclusion, as well as social values on solidarity bases and community work.
In the year 2016 he created a municipal ordinance project, and in 2017 the province law to the “Solidary Bank of musical instruments”, (both approved and in current validity), in co-participation with the legislative state, business and people, being accepted in unanimity by the Honourable Legislature of Neuquén Province. In November 2018, he was distinguished by the Honourable Deliberative Council of Neuquén Province as a distinguished neighbour, for his contribution in art, culture and education. In December 2018 he was named - Honourable Member - in the United Nations International Art Council.
July 2019, he was distinguished as Peace Ambassador in Argentina - INSPAD Peace and Development Institute (the same centred with the United Nations Organization and the Europe Union). In the same way, he
was named Humanitarian Ambassador by the Global Goodwill Ambassadors - GGA. Subsequently, he was nominated before The Norwegian Nobel Institute to the Nobel Peace Prize 2020. In April 2020 he was noticed by Gandy Peace Foundation Nepal, for the service of social contribution before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same year, afterwards the creation of a video-production with musicians from Italy and Argentina in favour of peace, he founded the INSPAD, (International Orchestra for Peace) to integrate and include different voluntary artists from different cultures and branches of art.
John Keen: It is my passion for being able to share this noble activity that is to multiply what God lends us. It is a tremendous job to be able to carry out an orchestra school with limited economic resources, which are produced by collecting from those who can help with basic expenses. Mostly I absorb the expenses by myself. But the most precious thing is to be able to build a space that takes more than fifteen years producing musicians of all ages and social classes—people with disabilities that are integrated to provide further scope
for inclusion. My thoughts are that the world needs more power to show the art that emerges in each individual on the planet and be part of an essential change.
In my 32 years as a musician, I was never financially benefited by a concert; everything has been for community benefit... for this reason, from a very young age, eight years old, I’ve worked in the streets and studied piano in secret. Then, music became a part of my life and a tool for share and work resilience. When I founded Amadeus, I felt that it was time to leave a legacy to different areas opened in that institution. Such as healthcare with medical university students, a music school and benefit concerts to collect non-perishable food and collaborate with other NGO’s that worked humanely like us.
Another activity that greatly nourishes the soul is reaching out to each of the beneficiaries after a humanitarian concert, is going to the deprived neighbourhoods and giving them food, clothing or toys on hand. The expression on their faces of “thank you” imprinted on their eyes is a gift for the soul. The biggest challenge is, I think that ̈you have to believe in the future to create the present ̈ and from there, forge new generations living together in peace and harmony. Today I hope to continue with this new project that allows uniting cultures and ethnic groups showing off its art.
I’m not looking to do shows but to be able to bring different cultures art, so together we can know each other and learn from each one, sharing for a world that points at a coexistence between human beings and Mother Earth.
I’m enormously grateful to each organization in favour of peace that accompanies me, and to Jasmina Siderovski, who has been very supportive in sharing my work with everyone.
