Mural at Foundation of Thracian Art and Tradition

I was struck by how deep culture and aesthetic beauty runs in this country.  The town of Drama has a population of 50,000.   We visited a municipal music center where 900 students participate in lessons and ensembles.  Here’s a clip from our performance there.  Check out the serious audience participation!

Then we went to a school where 200 more music students gathered from towns nearby.  Here’s a clip of Kate opening our performance in the school with “Trouble of the World.”  What a model for valuing culture-Northern Greece!

Our next concert was in Xanthi at the Foundation for Thracian Art and Tradition.  It was a sweet, intimate performance in an old tobacco building-turned arts center.  The U.S. Consul General attended the concert for the 2nd night in a row.  Our new friend Anotonis Varvatsoulias intoduced us to some Greek traditional music that smacks of the blues.  Is it possible, many cultures have their own blues?