FAMILY : Children’s Choir Carries Message of Peace

. . . And when so many nations are still at war,

I hope that in my life there won’t be any more.

If they could only remember when they were children . . .

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Those heartfelt lyrics are from the signature anthem sung by the Children of the World Choir, a group of 150 youngsters from more than 35 countries, including the United States, the Philippines, India, Japan, South Africa, Bosnia and Croatia.

Formed in 1992 by concert pianist-composer Marrina Waks, the choir’s musical mission is to promote world peace and unity. To that end, the winsome young amateur singers, ages 5 to 18 and dressed in the traditional costumes of their countries, have performed in celebrity benefits with stars from Liza Minnelli to Quincy Jones.

On Sunday, the group will be the main attraction in the Gold Heart Family Festival, entertainment and activities to benefit Variety Club International, at Universal CityWalk.

Russian-born Waks said she composed the “Children of the World” anthem in honor of the late Audrey Hepburn and her work with UNICEF. The idea for the choir was inspired by children Waks met during her years touring internationally as a pianist.

“I met a lot of children around the world and they all say the same things--they want to live happy, not have any wars. I decided to create a musical bridge for those children,” she said.

Although the nonprofit choir has shared the stage with high-profile stars, Waks doesn’t like the term celebrity choir. The group’s purpose, she said, is to promote “a positive outlook, world peace and the well-being of humanity for the next generation.”

There is a waiting list for children interested in joining the Beverly Hills-based group. Budding songwriters, however, take note. Waks is looking for new song ideas to help spread the choir’s peaceful messages.

* Children of the World Choir, Gold Heart Family Festival, Universal CityWalk, Sunday 3 p.m., free. Choir information: (310) 285-9791.

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Where the Wild Things Are: You’re invited to dress up as your favorite Maurice Sendak character and greet the author-illustrator for the grand opening of Storyopolis, a new art gallery, bookstore and multimedia production company (at 116 N. Robertson Blvd.) dedicated to the preservation of stories and storytelling, on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. The event, a tribute to Sendak, will feature his artwork, theater production designs and props.

Activities include story readings and performances by cast members from the Night Kitchen, the children’s theater company founded by Sendak and children’s author-illustrator Arthur Yorinks, who will also attend the event.

The Night Kitchen is in town for the Los Angeles debut of “Really Rosie,” written by Sendak with music by Carole King, which plays Friday through Sunday at UCLA’s Freud Theatre.

* Storyopolis information: (310) 358-2500.