The Bi-Communal Choir for Peace "Lena Melanidou" was awarded the 2025 Cyprus Peace Prize for its 28-year commitment to using music as a bridge across the island's ethnic divide. Established in 1997, the choir’s humanitarian and peace acts are defined by the persistent gathering of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the UN Buffer Zone to rehearse and perform. Defying political tensions and physical borders, they have conducted over 250 concerts in villages, town squares, and international venues like the European Parliament. By singing in both Greek and Turkish, they perform a daily act of resistance against division, proving that cultural cooperation can thrive even when official diplomacy stalls.The choir’s vision, championed by its late co-founder Lena Melanidou, is that "Music has no borders." They envision a reunified, federal Cyprus where the "universal language of melody" heals the wounds of war. Their vision emphasizes:Bicommunal Empathy: Acknowledging shared pain and heritage through traditional songs.Grassroots Diplomacy: Building peace from the bottom up by fostering lifelong friendships between ordinary citizens.Cultural Preservation: Protecting the common Cypriot identity from the erosion caused by long-term partition.Through their hallmark bilingual performances, the choir transforms the "dirty face of politics" into a shared "common sky" of hope and coexistence.