March 17, 2006

The Silk Road Project Hosts a Workshop with Musicians From the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra in Partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs from April 5-8.

NEW YORK, March 17, 2004 - The Silk Road Project - with the generous support from the U.S. Department of State, Carnegie Hall and Arts-4-All - will host six members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO) and string players from the Silk Road Ensemble (SRE) for a special musical workshop in New York from April 5-8, 2004. During the workshop, SRE musicians will lead rehearsals featuring works from Western classical and contemporary chamber music repertoire. The workshop will conclude with an informal, invitation only presentation at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on April 8, 2004. This project is in partnership with CultureConnect, an initiative by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The musicians will rehearse movements from standard Western classical and contemporary chamber music repertoire at Arts-4-All, a not-for-profit performing arts studio in New York. The tentative program for the workshop may include works by John Adams, Antonin Dvorak, Franz Joseph Haydn, Vartabed Komitas and Mark O'Connor. The rehearsals will be led by Colin Jacobsen (violinist) Nicholas Cords (violist) and Raman Ramakrishan (cellist).

The Silk Road Project, Inc. The Silk Road Project is a not-for-profit arts organization that acts as an umbrella organization and common resource for a number of artistic, cultural, and educational programs. Founded in 1998 by Yo-Yo Ma, the Silk Road Project strives to bring new ideas, talent, and energy into the world of classical music, while nurturing musical creativity that draws on the wonderfully diverse and distinguished sources of cultural heritage around the world. The Silk Road Project promotes collaboration and a sense of community among musicians, audiences, and institutions who share a fascination with the transcultural artistic imagination symbolized by the Silk Road. For more information, please visit www.silkroadproject.org.

CultureConnect

CultureConnect is a U.S. Department of State initiative that aims to improve cross-cultural understanding around the globe. An exchange program under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Patricia S. Harrison, CultureConnect focuses primarily on young audiences ages 12-25. CultureConnect works with U.S. embassies worldwide and utilizes the extraordinary talents of people from diverse disciplines - art, music, literature, theatre, business, sports – to address aspects of American culture beyond the stereotypes. The CultureConnect Ambassadors comprise a dedicated group of people recognized worldwide for excellence in their fields who want to teach, mentor and work with young people. While overseas they conduct clinics, performances, coaching sessions, motivational speeches, master classes, and leadership training. Yo-Yo Ma, founder of the Silk Road Project, was named the Cultural Ambassador for Classical Music in 2003. Visit www.cultureconnect.state.gov for more information.

The use of Weill Recital Hall is extended by Carnegie Hall, in its role as a partner of the CultureConnect program.