Multi-talented Americans Catalyze Franco-American Friendship: Medical Musical Group Joins French Musicians in “Vive l’amitié” concert at UNESCO

Concertmaster Richard Chen, Ambassador and Mrs. Killion, CNN’s Jim Bittermann, with Elizabeth Nunan and Maestro Victor Wahby from the Medical Musical Group (Anne Turnacliff - State Dept.)

Ambassador Killion greeted concert goers with opening remarks to the program (Anne Turnacliff - State Dept.)

When American medical professionals moonlighting as classical musicians want to give a concert, they pull out all the stops. Over 300 performers from Paris and environs assembled on the UNESCO grand stage for a rousing tribute to Franco-American Friendship, inspired and organized by a unique organization, the Medical Musical Group.

The U.S. Delegation was pleased to welcome the Medical Musical Group to UNESCO for their “Vive l’amitié” concert, in celebration of Franco-American friendship. Ambassador Killion greeted concert goers with welcoming remarks at the program, which was hosted by CNN Paris correspondent Jim Bittermann and France 24 personality Genie Godula.

Members of the Medical Musical Group, who traveled to Paris from many points in the U.S. for the event, joined members of several Parisian choirs. Professional soloists, forty instrumentalists and more than 200 choristers performed festive renditions of a range of international classics. Maestro Wahby had the audience standing, signing and clapping to John Philip Sousa’s American classic, “Stars and Stripes Forever”.

The Medical Musical Group is an award-winning chorale and symphony orchestra whose members are “healers” – doctors, nurses and others from Veterans Administration and other U.S. medical centers and schools.  MMG's mission is to perform "Music with a Message" – of healing, hope, inspiration, patriotism, peace, and brotherhood. Concerts frequently benefit health causes.