Why we got the chance to visit Bethlehem?

当協会の事業ではないのですが、当協会の音楽家会員、サポート会員が関わった事業ですので、ここに記録しておきます。

♪　　　♪　　　♪　　　♪　　　♪

Why we got the chance to visit Bethlehem?

In Feburary,2008, we visited Bethlehem with the fellow musicians to participate in the project called "Music Bridge between Izumo and Bethlehem".

"What's the Music Bridge between Izumo and Bethlehem?"  "Why Bethlehem?"

The story starts as follows:

To begin with, Mr.Saleem Zougbi, the president of Bethlehem Music Academy visited Izumo Academy of Arts in August, 2006. He was invited to attend the short stay program for the people in academic or artistic career by Japan Foundation.


I heard that he hadn't planned to visit Izumo at first, however, he happened to know Izumo Academy of Arts in the article of the classical music magazine,"Mostly Classic" and had the keen interest in us.

Mr.Zougbi visited Izumo then and came to love Izumo Academy of Arts as well as the people and the place very much.
After he went back home, he has had the ardent desire to keep contact with us, the members of Izumo Academy of Arts and to invite us to Bethlehem.
We were much impressed to know his enthusiasm to invite us to his place. We, too, worked hard to collect fund in answering to his favour.

Finally, we succeeded in making our dream come true.  In other words,some of the members of Izumo Academy of Arts could visit Bethlehem to be the "Music Bridge"  between the two cities.

Next, let me introduce to you the key person to put this project into action.

That's Ms.Eri Kimura, a bassoon player.
She has exchanged letters with Mr.Zougbi by e-mail.  She was presented the music piece for a bassoon and a piano,"Fantasia Capriciosa",  composed by Mr.Zougbi.


Both Mr.Zogbi's and Ms.Kimura's love and ehthusiasm for the project have moved us deeply and finally led us to visit Bethlehem!

Now I'll show you where Izumo and Bethlehem are on the map.

Well, next time, I'll tell you more precisely about our experience .