2004 Press Releases
U.S. Independence Day in Perm
June 24, 2004
For the first time ever, Perm hosted an official diplomatic event marking U.S. Independence day. The U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg moved its official celebration of this holiday outside of Yekaterinburg for the first time in the Consulate's ten-year history. Although the holiday was celebrated a little earlier than usual, the warm reception by Perm made it a day to remember. The highlight of the event was a concert by the Kelly Johnson Quartet, who traveled to Perm under the Jazz Ambassador program. The night was especially memorable for a group of students from the Perm Musical College, who were brought on stage by the band after the performance for an impromptu jam session that along with a master class given earlier in the day helped change the students perception of jazz music, its soul and inspiration.
The evening began with the opening of a photo exhibit chronicling the history of meetings between U.S. and Russian/Soviet Presidents. Consul General Scott Rauland along with Perm’s acting Governor, Oleg Chirkunov, reflected on the changes in U.S – Russian relations over the years and how just the thought of celebrating U.S. Indpendence day in Perm 15 years ago would have been impossible.
Following the concert, a traditional 4th of July picnic complete with American style hot dogs, popcorn, and ice cream brought a slice of the States to the Urals. We owe many thanks to the following donors who made this event a success:
COCA-COLA HBC EURASIA
PEPSI INTERNATIONAL BOTTLERS
BASKIN ROBBINS
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
POLKHOM
URALHELICOM
WASHINGTON GROUP
