American Music Day
On Saturday, October 22, Iraqi and American musicians came together at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as part of the 10th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days. The embassy organized classes focused on different genres of American music – Broadway, jazz, country, and rock ‘n roll – and were taught by both civilian and military American musicians. The teachers also became the students, learning Iraqi musical variations and styles. At the conclusion of the day, the talented Iraqi and American musicians performed to a standing-room only crowd of embassy staff and Iraqi guests. 
The event is also a part of the Jusoor program of the U.S. Embassy’s Cultural Affairs Office. Jusoor seeks to build bridges of dialogue between the United States and Iraq through arts, music, sports, and other cultural events. Both the U.S. and Iraq recognize that cultural interaction is crucial to forging bonds of friendship and mutual respect, a key part of the Strategic Framework Agreement.
