SU, Sister Cities, SWAC Present 'Singing to My Sister' September 11

SALISBURY, MD---His Excellency Väino Reinart, ambassador of Estonia to the United States, delivers a special greeting from his country and Salisbury’s sister city of Tartu during the presentation “Singing to My Sister” 2-4 p.m. Saturday, September 11, in the Great Hall of Salisbury University’s Holloway Hall.

Co-sponsored by SU, the Sister Cities Association of Salisbury/Wicomico County and the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, the event features the Salisbury Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. Douglas Smith. The choir performs two traditional Estonian choir arrangements, acquired through the Maryland Estonian Exchange Council. The Baltimore-Washington Estonian Mixed Choir, directed by Mati Tammaru, also sings.

Other performances include the Baltimore Estonian Society dance troupe Pillerkaar, choreographed by Anu Oinas and, in commemoration of the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the national anthems of the United States and Estonia, performed by the Maryland Defense Force Band, directed by Major Yari Villanueva.

Salisbury Mayor James Ireton, SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach and guests from the Maryland Legislature bring local greetings from Salisbury to the residents of Tartu. The event will be videotaped and offered as a special gift of goodwill from Salisbury to the Embassy of Estonia and the Office of the Mayor in Tartu. Refreshments will be served.

Salisbury has enjoyed a Sister City relationship with Tartu since 1999. The relationship grew out of the development work of the Maryland National Guard with the new democratic Estonian government after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

SU launched a new study abroad program, Salisbury Abroad: Estonia, this fall. The program allows SU students to explore European and business studies in English at the University of Tartu. The program provides students with the opportunity to spend a full semester in Europe for costs comparable to a full semester at the main campus in Salisbury.

For more information about Sister Cities Association visit www.salisburysistercities.org. For more information on the Salisbury Abroad: Estonia program visit www.salisbury.edu/international and click on "study abroad."