2001, Boston
Five graduate students from the composition department of St. Petersburg Conservatory after the concert of their music share the stage with their hosts at the Concert Hall of the Boston University College of Fine Arts.  Sitting, from left to right: Anton Tanonov, Leonid Iogansen (Boston University graduate student in composition who was interpreting from Russian to English and back to Russian for the guests), and Nikolai Mazhara.  Standing, from left to right:  Ludmilla Leibman (Professor of music theory and director of the Educational Bridge Project), Ekaterina Blinova, Svetlana Nesterova, John Daverio (Director of the School of Music) and Maria Petrenko. 
Photo by Fred Sway, Boston University. Testimonials translated by Maria Petrenko.

I had just given my workshop to students in Moscow at the State University of Arts and Culture. About 60 students were there. They were curious, engaged, and enthusiastic about learning every aspect of how Pop music works in the US, eager to share details about how similar or different the Russian music industry is, and we shared laughs and jokes even though speaking two totally different languages. I performed for them live, and played some recordings. Several students asked about recording techniques and how they could set up small home studios to record their own music, which is a very popular method in the American indie music scene. After the workshop, I was taking the metro and a student, Mikhael, from the workshop happened to be in the same train car. He came up to me and hugged me and said that he writes music because he wouldn't survive if he didn't. He said he feels it's his only connection to the world and he would die without music. He wants to record his own songs and he felt like now he had the information to set up a small studio. I felt like Russia and the United States were very close at that moment, because I think we all play or sing or write for different reasons, but it's truly a Universal language that can heighten and liberate and free you, and it connects everyone's happiness and sadness into one common humanity.

Thank you so much for including me in the tour. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime! I feel so fortunate to have spent that time with Jennifer, but also to have met all the wonderful people (both American and Russian) that were connected to the program. I think wonderful people gravitate towards you!

I appreciate what a logistical challenge it is to organize such a program and diverse group. You did such a good job of it though!

We fell in love with St Petersburg – and getting to know the “olgas”/librarians was a treat. I would like to send each of them a note...

One group I was thinking about the other day was the High School that we toured the day you were sick. They put on such a wonderful tour and afternoon program for us. As mentioned, they are hoping to find an equivalent school in the US where an exchange can take place.  I am sure that you sent a note them….but if you correspond again, please let them know how much we enjoyed the afternoon.

I hope you were able to get some rest at some point, and really get rid of your cold.  It seems like you never slept!

Thanks again for introducing us to Russia.

Best wishes,

Julie