Programs and events

Bluegrass Visits Belarus

Braeburn musicians during performance

The July 6th performance of the U.S. bluegrass band Tony Ellis and the Musicians of Braeburn at the Philharmonic Concert Hall in Minsk marked another successful cultural program jointly carried out this summer by the U.S. Embassy Minsk and Belarusian State Philharmonic Society. The U.S. musicians -- renowned banjo and fiddle player Tony Ellis; his son, nationally known singer/songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist William Lee Ellis; Tony's wife Louise Adkins on keyboard; and Larry Nager on upright bass and triple-washboard – shared with the local audience a wide range of American traditional music combining elements of bluegrass, country, minstrel banjo, steamboat calliopes, Irish music, ragtime and more. Joined for the encore by the Belarusians musicians– The Ensemble of Soloists of the Belarusian Philharmonic – the American performers were showered with applause and cheers.

In addition to the public concert, Tony Ellis and the Musicians of Braeburn provided entertainment for over 400 guests at the 4th of July reception hosted by Ambassador George Krol at his residence.

During their stay in Minsk, the American performers gave a number of interviews to local media outlets, including Kultura weekly, Jazz-Kvadrat magazine, LAD TV, Kultura radio and Radio Unistar.