The largest public performances ever planned by the Public Affairs Section succeeded in bringing the award- winning youth hip hop break dance group from Houston, Havikoro, to Vietnam as part of our year-long commemoration of the tenth anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations. This performing arts event is the culmination of Post's three-year efforts to bring outstanding performing arts groups and is a vivid example of how we can reach younger and broader audiences by looking to unconventional sources within America's diverse music culture. Although a striking departure from the usual classical or jazz programs of our repertoire, this program injected new enthusiasm about the United States into the general public and young audiences in a country where 60 percent of the population is under twenty-five years old.

The next night, Havikoro lit up the stage for a crowd of more than 4000 concertgoers at a friendship concert, bringing together some of Vietnam's best and most popular pop singers and dancers, including an ethnic minority rapper and no less than four professional break dance groups. Havikoro awed the audience with complex spin moves, rapping, dj record-scratching and comic interludes. The national television station, Vietnam Television (VTV), Hanoi Television and a Reuters film crew were on hand to capture the energy of the masses, and many major newspapers carried stories about the concert the next day. In an unusual move, VTV aired clips from the concert on its evening news two nights in row, highlighting the bilateral efforts to celebrate the tenth anniversary.

Over 4,000 people also attended the repeat performance in HCMC, while an overflow crowd watched from large video screens outside. The space-ship style stage featured huge projections of the Consulate General seal and the logo for the 10th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. The carnival atmosphere at the stadium was accentuated by youth doing spontaneous break dancing and a finale act that finished off the evening in a friendly dance-off between American and Vietnamese breakdancers. VTV's planned complete broadcast of the concert in the coming weeks is expected to reach 10 million viewers throughout the country.

U.S. Embassy, Hanoi, Vietnam, April, 2005

The Embassy would like to commend Mike del Ferro both for the superb quality of his performances as a musician, and for his open, friendly character, which endeared him immediately to Mauritanian musicians and the public. He was truly an effective Citizen-Ambassador for the United States. Mike carried the day, starting off with solo jazz pieces, and then improvising with incredible talent and ease with Mauritanian musicians. His level of technical mastery of the piano and his easy stage presence were phenomenal, and placed him a clear, cut-above the fine "Jazz Ambassadors" pianist that Embassy sponsored last year.

The highlight of the American Voices visit was the public concert held at the main Youth Center (Ancienne Maison des Jeunes), where Mike – at Embassy's initiative – joined up with a young and emerging artist, Garmy Mint Sidaty Ould Abba, who comes from a well know family of Mauritanian singers. Mike was also able play together with several other prominent local musicians using traditional music instruments such as the "Tidnit," a stringed instrument somewhat larger than a ukulele.

Both the concert at the Ambassador's residence and at the Youth Center were recorded by the recently started Youth Radio (Radio Jeunesse) -- which is the only radio station in Mauritania other than the National Radio. Some attendees at the concert commented that it was the first time that the youth of Nouakchott had been offered a free concert of this kind and caliber. This concert allowed Embassy to initiate a relationship with Radio Jeunesse that we hope to broaden in the future.

U.S. Embassy, Mauritania, March 2005

“With rain splattering in from the open sides and the leaky roof of the performance hall, American Voices director John Ferguson treated concert-goers in the central city of Hue to its first performance by an American musician since the end of the Vietnam War. Ferguson's strong solo renditions of music by Gershwin, Joplin and Charles Ives charged the audience members with enthusiasm for music forms which many of them had never before heard.”

U.S. Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, November, 2003

"American Voices recently held an audience of 100 guests in rapt attention at my Residence… It was a gratifying moment, confirming the need as often as possible to let the arts speak, to represent the achievements and goodness of America… The pedagogical aspect to the project, with its lasting impact on the successor generation of young musicians is just as important as the group's professional concerts… They show the finest side of American arts and artists."

Former U.S. Ambassador to Greece, R. Nicholas Burns, January, 2001

“American Voices recently held an audience of 100 guests in rapt attention at my Residence… It was a gratifying moment, confirming the need as often as possible to let the arts speak, to represent the achievements and goodness of America… The pedagogical aspect to the project, with its lasting impact on the successor generation of young musicians is just as important as the group’s professional concerts.  In sum, I would certainly commend American Voices to any Ambassador who values cultural diplomacy. They show the finest side of American arts and artists.”

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns, U.S. Embassy, Greece, January 2001

“I think it is precisely the kind of cultural programming the U.S. Embassies should be doing… The audience clearly enjoyed the performance and, perhaps more impressively, the choir itself was obviously thrilled with their new skills and new repertoire… The subsequent press coverage of the public performance was uniformly glowing… One well-known choir director commented on TV that the project was particularly interesting to Lithuanians because they are fond of American music and would like to perform it, but do not really know how it should be presented… Having Americans come and teach – with their own methodology – was particularly effective.”

Ambassador John Tefft, U.S. Embassy, Vilnius, Lithuania, April 2001

“I value what events like American Voice’s concerts can do to advance our national interests by giving a fuller dimension to the dialogue with our hosts abroad. In terms of affordability, professionalism and musicianship, this program was spot on. I recommend them unreservedly as exceptional cultural ambassadors.”

Frances D. Cook, Former U.S. Ambassador to Oman

“American Voices is an excellent vehicle for presenting American music in countries that rarely hear it live. It is virtually a “musiciens sans frontieres,” where accomplished artists, otherwise used to being pampered and fussed over, check their egos at the door in favor of their shared mission of showcasing American music abroad where divas usually loath to tread.”

Terry White, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait (Project in May 2000)

“This is a fine opportunity for the Lebanese to appreciate both the existence of their National Orchestra and to discover that the music of America is broader and more sophisticated in range than we are exposed to.”

Anne O’Leary, Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Lebanon, December 2000

"This was the highest quality program musically and professionally that post has undertaken in recent memory… We would wholeheartedly welcome them again in Jordan."

U.S. Embassy, Amman, Jordan

"In Syria, cultural programming provides the venue for informal discussion of the Middle East Peace Process and other subjects which can not be discussed openly… Our contacts were impressed by "real" American music and stated that this was the best Embassy sponsored concert in two years."

U.S. Embassy, Damascus, Syria

"Whether performing for members of Qatar's ruling family, entertaining ambassadors resident in Doha, or giving a children's concert, the duo impressed young and old alike with their charm, professionalism, humor and obvious love of their subject."

U.S. Embassy, Doha, Qatar

"Post would like commend both John Ferguson's musicianship and his sense of mission in wanting to bring the classics of American music to audiences mostly familiar only with today's pop music from the U.S. He understands our objectives, needs and capabilities and is adaptable and responsive to them. We hope to be able to work again in the future with "American Voices" and Mr. Ferguson."

U. S. Embassy Muscat, Oman

"Top-notch performers… their delightful personalities added to the impact of their art."

U.S. Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

"Ferguson's performances were a dramatic reinforcement of the theme the post regularly stresses about US society – that the variety, energy and creativity of American culture is the outcome of the ethnic diversity of its people."

U.S. Embassy, Tallinn, Estonia

"Public and media response to their (Coco York in ‘Jazz from J to Z’) performances… was effusive. The impact of their visit will live on through a CD recording made of the standing-room only benefit concert with Baku's Beribakh choir."

U.S. Embassy, Baku, Azerbaijan

"It is hard to imagine any other musician who could so concretely use music to paint a picture of America. Our two donations of sheet music…leave a tangible legacy of our American music promotion."

U.S. Embassy, Budapest, Hungary

"American Voices beautifully demonstrated how American popular music of the early twentieth century reflected a fusion of many American cultures and traditions. A master class at the Music Academy drew a standing room only crowd of more than 200. The donation of music is an important part of the American Voices program demonstrating its commitment to creating a better understanding of American musical culture in other countries, rather than being content to provide mere entertainment."

U.S. Embassy, Chisinau, Moldova