Beethoven's Ninth for South Asia organized and held a benefit performance of the Ninth Symphony, raising over $163,000, for the survivors of the October 2005 South Asia Earthquake. The conductor and founder George Mathew brought together some of the finest orchestral players in the world who donated their services to perform at this benefit performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with orchestra, soloists and choir. This historic concert took place on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 7:30 pm in Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall. The proceeds from the concert were donated to DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS to assist with their relief efforts in the regions devastated by the earthquake.

Musicians from the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, New York City Ballet Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Long Island Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke's, American Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Emerson String Quartet, American String Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, students, graduates and faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Mannes College of Music participated in the orchestra. Also featured were soloists Amy Johnson, Soprano, Kathryn Friest, Mezzo-Soprano, Dinyar Vania, Tenor and Charles Temkey, Baritone, and a chorus of 150 assembled from the major choral ensembles in New York City. Also present in the chorus were members of the diplomatic, United Nations, and academic communities in New York. Artistic Director George Mathew conducted the performance. Glenn Dicterow, concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, served as the concertmaster.

Portions of the concert and the rehearsal were telecast on the ASIA TODAY program of the BBC WORLD Television network, reaching estimated audience of over one billion viewers in over 30 countries throughout Asia, including the earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan and India.

Proceeds from this concert which raised over $163,000, went to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to assist their efforts on behalf of the earthquake victims. Reports from the field and relief agencies estimate a death toll of over 83,000 people, including more than 17,000 children killed in the first hours of the October disaster, and over 3 million homeless or otherwise severely affected. The amount of aid required for rebuilding the infrastructure and the economy is at least $5.2 billion. The situation on the ground remains severe and the need for help is immediate.

Beethoven understood the potential of music to speak truth to power and hope to destiny. In the early 1800's, when war raged across the continent from Paris to Istanbul, Beethoven found the urgency to incorporate music of the Islamic world in the Ninth Symphony in ways that were, for the first time in European classical music, not condescending but inclusive. There could not be a more appropriate time for Beethoven's and Schiller's cry of Seid Umschlungen, Millionen! -Be Embraced, You Millions!

This concert is presented by Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation.
Sponsored by Irfan Kathwari Foundation.