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News Posted by Embassies of the United States, November 2007

“Trio Chicago and Friends” Highlight the Best of American Music for Large Audiences Around the Kingdom

November  14 - On a U.S. Embassy-sponsored visit to Jordan, American musical ensemble “Trio Chicago and Friends” attracted Jordanians
from throughout the Kingdom to live performances in the governorates of Greater Amman, Aqaba, Tafileh and Madaba this week. The
hundreds of students attending the various concerts raved about the performances, many stating that they had never heard music of this
caliber before. Captivated audiences offered spontaneous applause in reaction to soprano vocalist Alyssa Bennett’s tone, range and
versatility, especially when she performed classics such as Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Glitter and Be Gay.” The
attendance at their various concerts reached approximately 2000 people in total, ranging from schoolchildren to mature audiences grateful for
the rare opportunity to see a performance in Jordan by such skilled musicians with such a unique repertoire. Trio Chicago and Friends also
conducted master classes at the National Music Conservatory for more than twenty local aspiring musicians.

November 15 - Returning to Ethiopia for a fourth concert tour, “Trio Chicago and Friends” arrived in Addis Ababa on November 14 to
launch their latest concert tour of Addis Ababa and Gondar. As United States “Cultural Ambassadors,” the five American musicians will
perform concerts at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, the Addis Ababa Municipal Theatre, Gondar University, the Fasilidas Palace in
Gondar, and conduct a master class for student musicians at the Yared Music School.

News Posted by Embassies of the United States, January 2007

Trio Chicago Shares Classic American Music with Cambodian Audiences

The respected American musical ensemble Trio Chicago and Friends recently performed to large and enthusiastic audiences across
Cambodia as part of a Southeast Asia tour that also included Laos and Thailand. In Cambodia, the group performed in Battambang, Siem
Reap (as part of the Angkor-Gyeonjgu World Culture Expo), and Phnom Penh. City officials estimated that Trio Chicago's outdoor concert
in Battambang drew nearly 10,000 people to the city center, where an impromptu street fair had been set up to capitalize on the concert
crowds. In Siem Reap, Trio Chicago performed on the Grand Stage at the Angkor-Gyeonjgu Expo to an audience of more than 1,000
people, and the group concluded it's stay in Cambodia with a sold-out performance at Chenla Theater attended by special guests of honor
H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women's Affairs, and H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information.

American Musicians Trio Chicago and Friends Thrill Lao Audiences

The quintet Trio Chicago and Friends held two concerts in Vientiane as part of a State Department-sponsored tour as Artistic
Ambassadors. On January 5, the group entertained about 80 guests at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach with a
performance that featured jazz pieces and traditional American music. The next night, hundreds of members of the general public attended a
concert at the National Cultural Hall. The group also conducted a master class for about twenty Lao music students from public and private
schools. This was the group’s second visit to Laos, following a tour in 2002.
At the end of their concert at the National Cultural Hall, Trio Chicago and Friends surprised audiences by inviting noted Lao musician and
teacher Ajaan Kamsuan and his students to join the performers for two songs. The combination of western and traditional Lao instruments
produced a unique and memorable sound, showing that, in music, there are no borders between nations. Following the concert, Vice
Minister of Information and Culture Boua Ngeun Saophouvong congratulated the group on their performance.

The Russian Far East, October 2006

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