Though the American Voices workshops were cut short this summer, the Jordanian program was a huge success. It is exciting to see how our presence in Jordan still reinforced the awareness of our work last year in the other countries we visited in the region. I get daily emails from students eager for us to return next year. Fingers crossed, kids!
Just as I posted last summer’s epilogue, below are additional pictures and video from some of the highlights of our time in Jordan.
I will continue to use this space to keep people updated on things related to the American Voices experience and mission. If you have enjoyed reading about our work and my adventures, please consider a small tax-deductible donation to American Voices. Our work can only continue with the support of music, dance, and theater lovers like you!
Enjoy!
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A special thanks goes to the Alfred Music Company, and Mary Beth Parker of the Waco Piano Center for their generous donation of music to the American Voices program. Thanks to them, many boxes of music were donated to the Jordanian libraries this summer. In this picture left to right: Mark Thayer (St. Louis), Andreh Maqdisi (Syria), John Ferguson (AV founder and Big Boss), and Aram Kawa (Iraq).
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Greg Hurley (East Carolina University) takes command of this Jordanian military orchestra rehearsal.
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Sarah Hamade arrives for the final Gala concert. The concert sported an audience of 1000 people and live Jordanian TV broadcasts.
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The Children’s group opens the string portion of the Gala program.
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Ira Spaulding (City College of New York) gives final instructions to the children’s choir before they take the stage for their portion of the Gala concert.
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Ira leads the children’s choir in an American favorite. They have a bit over a week to prepare their performance from scratch. The children are always crowd pleasers.
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The American Voices string program is huge, consisting of several orchestras.
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The intermediate orchestra prepares to take the stage.
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A student invites us over for traditional “Mansaf”, a delicious dish traditionally eaten with your hands. Here, we are taught the proper technique.
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A surprise guest. The man in blue is Jordan’s Minister of Labor. He was one of the few cabinet members to survive the government’s dismissal in February.
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The family gives me a tour of their home, complete with many antiques from their travels to India. Bruce gives a nice explanation to the Minister, describing American Voices and our mission.
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A night at a Lebanese restaurant with my “Groupies”.
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Some fun with the locals along one of the street markets.
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Making baked goods and Naan bread at one of the local shops.
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The local cherry salesman takes a breather.
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A trip to the local pastry shop. Yum!
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Waiting for handouts.
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Heading to Petra.
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At Petra, just looking at these women was enough to give me heat stroke.
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This little guy was always waiting for our return to the hotel.
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The intermediate piano class throws me a farewell party. I think I need to learn the proper way to wrap the shemagh they gave me.
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See YOU next year!
