In Opole, a concert commemorating the relationship between President Herbert Hoover and Ignacy Paderewski took place at the Opole Philharmonic. The event, held on December 1, was organized by the U.S. Consulate in Krakow and the Alumni Association in collaboration with the Opole province.
The concert was part of the "100 Years Together" initiative by the U.S. Mission to Poland, marking a century of Polish-American diplomatic relations. It celebrated both Hoover's friendship with Paderewski and his humanitarian efforts for Poland after both world wars.
American pianist Neal Larrabee performed pieces by Polish and American composers such as Ignacy Paderewski, Fryderyk Chopin, Samuel Barber, and L.M. Gottschalk. Before the recital, attendees viewed a film prepared by the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow and an exhibition detailing Hoover's connections with Poland.
The event saw attendance from notable figures including B. Bix Aliu, U.S. Consul General in Krakow, and the Marshal of the Opolskie province, along with local authorities, media representatives, and members of cultural institutions and universities in Opole.
Organized by the Alumni Association and featuring alumni from State Department exchange programs, this successful event underscored the significance of alumni and partners in hosting key cultural events.