Thanks to the generosity and creativity of Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kolaczyk, Dean of the Faculty of English Studies, Stan Breckenridge and I were able to present A Musical Journey Of America for a highly enthusiastic audience on June 27 at the Opera House in Poznan.  Poznan is a great city with many universities, but Adam Miczkiewicz University has the distinction of being the most prestigious, with the School of English being the largest center of English studies in Poland and all Europe.  I would like to thank Dean Dziubalska-Kolaczyk and her staff for their wonderful hospitality and for creating such a magical evening.  Here is an excerpt of the review of the concert (translated ) from an UAM publication, plus photos.

MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICA - CONCERT FOR WORKERS, STUDENTS FRIENDS and FACULTY, 06/27/2016

On June 27 an extraordinary Concert was held at the Grand Theatre in Poznan.  It’s moving inspiration was Dr. Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kolaczyk, Dean of the Faculty of English Studies.  The momentous event was organized in order to be able to bring the University Community together to celebrate the end of the first term of office of the Faculty and at the same time start a new period of work for the good of the university.  The premise of the organizers was to combine Faculty, staff, and students from all over the University for “A Musical Journey of America”… The concert was an extremely relevant and happy crowning of the achievements of the past academic year at UAM….many..regretted only that the concert ended after two hours.  The artist [Howland] with great virtuosity conducted listeners for more than two centuries of American music, from religious folk song "Amazing Grace," and with the songs of George Gershwin, a descendant of Russian Jews - such as "Summertime" from the opera "Porgy and Bess…Stan Breckenridge, in turn, focused in the performance of their works on the African roots of music USA.with his characteristic eloquence… Concluding this performance, the musicians once again sat in front of a piano keyboard, performing a series of light music. After the concert Stan Breckenridge and Pamela Howland spent a long time signing CDs in the foyer of the Grand Theatre, taking a deserved congratulations for creating beautiful framing the end of the academic year UAM. Through their art they managed to fill the entire ground floor of the evening Opera House…