Last week, Ambassador Sylvie Lucas hosted a Jazz Concert at the Luxembourg Embassy in Washington DC, USA.
This unique musical event was a part of the Washington D.C. Francophone festivities, with the concert featuring the Luxembourg trio of Michel Reis, piano, Paul Wiltgen, drums, and – in replacement of Marc Demuth – Dan Loomis, bass. The trio performed pieces from their second album, “Places in Between - Lieux entre deux", which was recorded in 2016.
Ambassador Lucas welcomed the enthusiastic friends of Luxembourg in Washington DC and spoke about the historic ties between Luxembourg and the United States. The concert was held in the beautiful wood panelled library of the Embassy building. In the background on the shelves were some precious memorabilia - a picture of the late US President John F Kennedy with the Luxembourg royal family. Among the notable books were "A gift to the Nation" as well as books about America and Mexico - countries that are being diplomatically served well by the experienced diplomat who served as Luxembourg's representative at the United Nations in New York.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Luxembourg Embassy, Véronique Dockendorf, as well as Counsul Stan Myck assisted by Social Secretary Elisabeth Herndler joined Ambassador Lucas in making the guests feel at home.
The concert was held on a perfect day - a few days after the Equinox. The sun shone brightly in places inbetween the Embassy, strategically located at the corner of Massachusetts Florida Ave, Q and 22nd Streets. Rush-hour was over and so the audience enjoyed the music played by talented young artists - without any background traffic noise, nor from emergency vehicles or the rolling thunder of the presidential motorcade.
Notable guests included the Ambassador of Thailand accompanied by his wife, a former US Ambassador to Luxembourg and Dr. Amela Hubic, representing Luxembourg at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, IMF.
A reception after the event allowed the guests to talk to the artists as well as mingle in delightful conversations while appreciating the hospitality of Luxembourg’s Ambassador and the diplomatic staff.
With masterful skills, the artists knew which strings to push or pull on their instruments and/or the music lovers’ hearts. The tune “floppy disc” appeared to generate a lot of enthusiastic applause for the Trio. They gave one more reason to stay connected with Luxembourg which earned its own special space in places in between the tussles of history.
Photo by C. Naseer Ahmad
