FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Embassy
February 8, 2005

Apple Hill Chamber Players

The Apple Hill Chamber Players are on their way back to Cyprus as part of their annual “Playing for Peace” tour, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State. These American cultural ambassadors, with a proven commitment to fostering bi-communal relationships, will be in Cyprus from February 10 th to 17 th. They will spend the first part of their visit in a musical retreat in Kakopetria, bringing 20 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians together for intensive training and performances. The retreat is modeled after the Apple Hill Summer Festival in New Hampshire, which fosters community building and friendship through music. The Players will conduct classes and training sessions at the Olympic Odeum, the Kakopetria Municipal Library, and at private homes in the village. The students will participate in two concerts with the Players that will be open to the public. The first concert is on Saturday February 12 at 8 p.m. and the second concert is the following day on Sunday February 13 at 2 p.m. Both concerts will be held at the Kakopetria Municipal Library.

The second part of the trip will focus on visits to local schools as well as two additional public concerts. On Monday February 14, the Players will perform a public concert in the Chorus Room of the music department at Eastern Mediterranean University. The program will begin at 8:00 p.m. A second public performance will be given at 8:00 p.m. on February 15 at the ARTE Cultural Center at 34-36 Leonidou Street in Nicosia. Entrance to both performances is free.

The group consists of Elise Kuder on violin, Michael Kelley on viola, Rupert Thompson on cello, and founding member of the group, Eric Stumacher on piano. The Apple Hill Playing for Peace mission is dedicated to using the traditions of Apple Hill concerts, residencies, and scholarships to further the causes of world peace and understanding—at Apple Hill, throughout the United States, and throughout the world. Since 1988, the Apple Hill Chamber Players have annually toured the Middle East, Europe, and other parts of the world, as well as all corners of the US, performing concerts, conducting master classes, and awarding Playing for Peace scholarships to bring musicians of conflicting cultures and diverse backgrounds to Apple Hill. Apple Hill programs are funded in part by contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies worldwide.

Press is invited to cover public events and to see appointments for interviews or feature coverage. [For more information about the program in Cyprus, call 22 39 39 05.]

For more information about Apple Hill Chamber Players, see www.applehill.org