Barack and Michelle Obama Celebrate Classical Music at the White House

This week, classical music overtook the White House as the President and the First Lady hosted a concert and workshop series that featured young classical musicians.  The President delivered some inspiring words to the audience about the importance of classical music and live performance. Excerpts from his speech is reproduced below:

THE PRESIDENT: Michelle and I are delighted to host the fourth evening in a series showcasing the achievements of American musicians...

It's been a busy day of classical music here at the White House. Earlier, more than 100 students participated in a terrific workshop and concert led by tonight's performers. I want to thank those performers for coming to share their passion and their talent with us tonight: Joshua Bell, Sharon Isbin, Awadagin Pratt, and Alisa Weilerstein.

Any one of them would tell you that they're only here because of the hard work, dedication, and the fact that somebody along the way was there for them. So I want to thank them for setting an important example for our gifted young musicians -- who someday, might be performing up here themselves.

Tonight's performance also continues a long tradition of sorts in the East Room. Over 120 years ago, the first formal concert was held here as President Chester A. Arthur and guests listened to Her Majesty's Opera Company performing the works of Mozart, Verdi and Wagner. Since then, it's earned a rich history as a venue for White House concerts -- and especially for those dedicated to classical music. From Van Cliburn to Yo-Yo Ma, to our own Marine chamber orchestra and Marine chamber ensembles, this room has been a stage for some of the nation's most accomplished classical musicians...

This is, of course, a unique concert venue. But tonight, all across America, in community centers and concert halls, in homes and in schools, the sounds of classical music are lifting hearts and spurring imagination, just as they always have. And it's easy to understand why. There's precision, of course; but there's also great feeling and improvisation. There's structure; but there's also creativity. It's music that defies simple definition even as it speaks to a common, universal language.

So whether you are new to classical music, or have been an aficionado for many, many years, we hope that you enjoy tonight.

Thank you so much.

 

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