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I am thrilled to announce the return of one of my favorite Russian artists: Vladimir Spivakov, a violinist and conductor of the acclaimed Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Spivakov will be performing with pianist Olga Kern on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. at the Symphony Center.

I loved meeting Mr. Spivakov at a reception that was held in his honor in November 2010, when he performed with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra at Symphony Center. Mr. Spivakov showed that he was a true artist and was both gracious and humble.

A world-renown violin virtuoso, Mr. Spivakov has performed as a soloist with the most important orchestras in the world over the last three decades. His performances have been praised for his refined artistry and intelligence, and I am so looking forward to seeing him perform again!

Friends of Russian Pointe® can receive a 10% discount on tickets to the concert by using the discount code “MAESTRO.� Tickets start at $45 and are available at the box office, by phone at 312-294-3000, or online at www.cso.org.

I was recently honored to be invited by the Russian government to join a delegation of about 50 people from the United States to visit Moscow.

The trip was organized by Rossotrudnichestvo — The (Russian) Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation — and its mission was to promote a more positive view of Russia’s economic climate to Americans.

The trip focused on learning more about Russian technology, cultural exchange and networking. We met with several high-level government leaders, including J.R. Beyrle, the Ambassador of the United States to Russia; Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow; Georgiy Tosunyan, president of the Association of Russian Banks and more.

During our visit, we learned about Russia’s technological capabilities and how Russia is adapting to a new global environment by visiting Rosnano, a Russian governmental organization that specializes in nano technology, traveling to the Vladimir region to take a tour of one of Kraft Foods’ 12 Russian factories, and visiting the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

We participated in many seminars and discussions about the business and trade relationship between the Unite States and Russia, hoping to increase understand about both cultures and strengthen economic ties between the two countries. We also met with the Moscow media and toured the national TV station, Russia 24.

Of course, it wasn’t all work. We also were treated to many cultural outings, including a trip to the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, the Kremlin, Alexander Gardens, and several monasteries and cathedrals in Moscow.

With Russia’s recent admission to the WTO, these meetings were a wonderful way to build a strong foundation of good relationships between the United States and Russia. I hope that these meetings serve as a stepping stone to continued and expanding partnerships between the United States and Russia.

About 300 Russian nationals and Americans joined together to celebrate the first annual Russia Day celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center on Monday, June 13.

As the co-chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, I was proud to help organize this event in honor of Russia’s national holiday, which is celebrated on June 12 and commemorates the day in 1990 when the Russian parliament formally declared sovereignty over Russia.

Sergey I. Kislyak, the Ambassador of Russia to the United States, gave the keynote speech of the evening, highlighting the importance of recognizing how far Russia has come in the 21 years since it relinquished communisim and entered a democratic, capitalistic era.

“We have a new generation of Russians who have lived only in modern Russia,� Ambassador Kislyak said, adding that this new, modern Russia is looking forward to an even closer relationship with the United States.

Other speakers included Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who provided his remarks via video; Prince Piotr Galitzien, chairman of TMK IPSCO; and Terry Laird, director of operations of the Russian-owned company NLMK of Indiana.

Several of the speakers talked about how networking events like Russia Day are important in strengthening the ties between the United States and Russia

“I think the cooperation we can have internationally can enhance all of our lives,� Mr. Laird said.

As I looked out over the packed room of guests and listened to both national anthems, I felt a surge of patriotism for both countries. It is through events like these that Americans and Russians have the opportunity to learn more about each other’s cultures, which in turn leads to more collaboration between both nations.

In addition to the speeches, the event included an elegant cocktail reception and catered hors d’ouevres featuring Russian cuisine, as well as performances by Golosa, a Russian folk choir from the University of Chicago; Russian-American cellist and composer Ian Maksin; opera soprano Heather Aranyi; The Joffrey Ballet’s Academy of Dance; and the Pontifical Choir of the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines.

I was inspired by the phenomenal performances by all of the artists who showcased the best of Russian music as well as their own, original creations.

The most gratifying part of the evening was how genuinely the guests thanked me after the event for recognizing Russia’s national holiday.

Ben Glozman, who moved from Russia to the United States 20 years ago, said this event helped him feel more patriotic about the holiday.

“Before that, it was just another day,� he said, adding that he is hopeful events like this will improve relations between Russia and the United States.

I hope this is an event that will be held again and again!

Elena Mossina, on behalf of event sponsor Baker & McKenzie, Mr. Boris Eifman, Aleksandra Efimova

The winners of the 2011 Russian Culture Now Scholarship Awards and their families.

Leonard Goldberg and Alex Katz of Geneva Seal Jewelers (Silent Auction Donors), Aleksandra Efimova, Gene Meltser of Birg & Meltser.

George Hisaeda, the Consul General of Japan, and his wife with Aleksandra Efimova.

George Hisaeda, the Consult General of Japan, with Aleksandra Efimova and Boris Eifman.

Elena and Mila Samokhina and Michael and Tatyana Polsky

On April 23, I was inspired and grateful that more than 150 people attended Russian Culture Now’s exclusive VIP pre-performance reception for choreographer Boris Eifman.

Held at the Russian Pointe Dance Boutique, the sparkling event included cocktails, hors d’oeuvers, and a silent auction that benefited Russian Culture Now’s Scholarship Awards program.

Mr. Eifman ― head of the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg who is known for his highly stylized, modern interpretations of classic tales ― spoke to the crowd about the privilege of bringing his company back to Chicago to perform.

It was gratifying that so many Russians and Americans were eager to meet Mr. Eifman face-to-face at the reception and then see his breathtaking production of Don Quixote or the Fantasies of a Madman at the Auditorium Theatre later that night. As always, the piece was majestic, emotional, and powerful, and it truly showcased the best of Russia’s modern ballet.

I was also enormously proud that Russian Culture Now was able to present a total of ten scholarships to students who won the 2011 Russian Culture Now Scholarship Awards. Five of those students personally attended the event. Mr. Eifman presented each student with a $500 check and a plaque, and all of the students were special guests at his company’s performance.

Kimberlee Kafana, whose daughter, Kalista, was one of the ten students selected for the Russian Culture Now Awards, said her daughter was truly honored to be chosen for the award and the whole family was awe-struck by the event. It’s especially touching that Kalista is choosing to use a portion of her scholarship money to start a fund for ballet dancers who can’t afford pointe shoes. It’s wonderful that our efforts will continue to help others enjoy the arts.

It’s also very impressive that so many of the guests traveled from as far away as California, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Moscow and even Dubai to attend the reception. It demonstrates how much Russian culture and the arts mean to people!

The reception was attended by several honored guests including Patricia Maza-Pittsford, Consul General of El Salvador and the Dean of the Consulate Corps; Brett Batterson, Executive Director of the Auditorium Theatre; Steve Robinson, General Manager of WFMT radio; and George Hisaeda, the Consul General of Japan.

Elena Mossina, of the law firm Baker & McKenzie, which sponsored the event, said she was impressed by both the pre-performance reception and the performance itself. “The Don Quixote ballet by Boris Eifman exceeded my already very high expectations. It was an unconventional, vibrant and esthetically pleasing performance. The pre-performance reception for the world-renowned choreographer was a seamless mix of Russian cultural heritage and Chicago’s multiculturalism.�

And now, the much-anticipated announcement of the Russian Culture Now Scholarship Award Winners of 2011… Congratulations to all of the winners and their families!

We had an overwhelming response to the Scholarship Awards with more than 140 entries from students all over the country. What was even more impressive was the caliber of students who applied. I was truly in awe of these students who demonstrated amazing talent, skill and dedication to the arts, their schoolwork, and their communities.

Some of the essays brought tears to my eyes. Others made me laugh out loud.

Many of the students truly understood that they must take a proactive approach to bettering themselves. They understood that their parents make a huge investment and commitment to offer them the gift of special interest classes, summer intensive workshops and supplies. In some of the essays, applicants wrote how their parents cannot afford everything, and many said that their parents had lost their jobs and it was hard for their parents to shoulder the responsibility of paying for their training or their education.

I was moved that many of the students wrote about how they save their allowance to be able to go to special arts summer camps or buy new instruments or pay for a special master class. These are students who truly understand the value of scholarships they would receive.

I am especially grateful to the judges ― Brett Batterson, Executive Director of the Auditorium Theater; Steve Robinson, General Manager of WFMT; Patricia Maza-Pittsford, the Consul General of El Salvador and Dean of the Consulate Corps; and Prince Piotr Galitzine ― for taking the time to read through all of the essays and select the winners.

Each of the 10 winners will receive a $500 scholarship on April 23 at an exclusive, VIP reception for choreographer Boris Eifman from St. Petersburg, Russia. I am looking forward to meeting all of these wonderful young people in person!

Winners
Middle School:
Demitra Bereveskos, Age: 12, Indianapolis, IN
Boris Federov, Age: 10, Glenview, IL
Kalista J’lyse Kafana, Age: 12, St. Clairsville, OH
Hannah Kipniss, Age: 13, Alpharetta, GA

High School:
Hayley Boyles, Age: 15, Hattiesburg, MS
Joseph Conovaloff, Age: 17, Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Ludmila Malakhov, Age: 16, Albuquerque, NM
Cecily Romaynne Shives, Age: 16, Chicago, IL

College/Graduate School:
Paul De Partout, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Darina Molkina, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

I traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend a special reception at the Russian Embassy on March 9 celebrating the 20^th anniversary of Lukoil, Russia’s second largest oil company.

The company was founded in 1991 when three state-run Russian oil companies merged, and today, the company has more oil and gas reserves than any other company in the world, except ExxonMobil.

The CEO of Lukoil spoke at the event, as well as the President of Lukoil in the United States, and because the reception was held at the Russian Embassy, I was impressed to see that attendees were from all over the world.

In addition to the speeches, the reception also included performances by nine accomplished musicians, opera singers and dancers, including three dancers from the American Ballet Theatre performing “The Dying Swan� from “Le Carnaval des Animaux� and the “Sinatra Suite� by Twyla Tharp, as well as two music students from the Julliard School, two opera singers and several other classical musicians.

I was honored to be invited to this elegant event and pleased to see both Russian businesses and Russian artists take center stage and receive well-deserved recognition.

On March 7, I had the pleasure to meet with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk at The Polish Museum of America in Chicago, where he was gathering with members of his Polish Advisory Board.

Senator Kirk said he is planning to reach out to various ethnic groups in Illinois to create advisory boards that would help him understand the needs that matter to those interest groups. In addition to the Polish Advisory Board, he also plans to create an African American Advisory Board, Asian Advisory Board, Latino Advisory Board, and Russian and Eastern European Advisory Board.

The idea is that each advisory board would be comprised of a team of 20 to 25 people who would meet with Senator Kirk on a quartely basis to discuss matters that affect those ethnic groups or their corresponding countries such as immigration policy, business, trade, education, and culture.

He said if all goes well, the Russian and Eastern European Advisory Board will hold its first meeting in the summer, and I was so surprised when Senator Kirk asked if I would chair that committee!

I was so humbled and honored to be appointed to this task. I look forward to bringing these important issues to the federal level, and I hope we can find ways to strengthen our relationship with Russia and Eastern Europe and increase trade and understanding between the United States and that region of the world.

On Nov. 12, I had the pleasure of hosting a beautiful reception for Maestro Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra before the orchestra’s performance at Symphony Center.

About 150 guests attended the reception, all of whom were true lovers of the arts, as well as representatives from several Russian newspapers and a radio station.

Maestro Spivakov spoke to about the guests about the evening’s program and the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation, which supports artistic education and provides humanitarian aid to children.

The event was held The Club at Symphony Center, which is truly an elegant space with a magnificent view.

After the reception, we all attended the concert, which included violin solos by Maestro Spivakov and piano solos by Alexander Ghindin. I thought both Maestro Spivakov and Mr. Ghindin were both brilliant and full of energy and spirit, and it seemed like the entire audience was mesmerized by the performance.

Chicago Classical Review called the concert, “a brisk evening of dazzling encores, soloists, neglected repertoire and music from the old country.�

I was pleased that we were able to receive sponsorship from Birg & Meltser Attorneys at Law, as well as in-kind donations from Falcon Graphics and Puerto Viejo wines.

As co-chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, it is always wonderful when we can bring cultural icons from Moscow here to Chicago to help increase awareness in the United States of Russia’s outstanding contributions to the arts.

As the co-chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, I am already having the opportunity to meet with many people who are involved in U.S.-Russian relations.

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, I was honored by a visit from Archimandrite Zacchaeus, who is the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Father Zacchaeus was visiting Chicago as part of his tour of U.S. parishes, and he met with me at my Russian Pointe office to discuss plans for Moscow Days, an event that Chicago Sister Cities International is organizing for 2012.

I served tea to Father Zaccheus and the other people who attended the meeting, including Ieva Dilyte and Robert Langliois of Chicago Sister Cities International and Khaled Elkhatib, the Deputy Director of International Relations for the Chicago Mayor’s Office.

Moscow Days is scheduled to be a three-day festival that will include visits from Moscow delegates and business people, as well as a full schedule of cultural performances and concerts that would introduce Russian arts to the people of Chicago.

Religious items, such as crosses and other artifacts, are an important part of the cultural identity of Russians, and they are not very well known by the people of the United States. If we can introduce some of these religious symbols to the residents of Chicago, as well, we will be educating them about Russian history and showing them something beautiful about Russian life.

I was truly touched to receive a visit from someone who is so deeply respected and who is focused on giving to others, helping the community and contributing to the world. I believe this meeting was another milestone for Russian-American relations!

It’s been quite a whirlwind weekend! I traveled to a very snowy Washington, D.C., where I had the honor to meet with Dr. Vyacheslav V. Moshkalo, Russia’s cultural attaché to the United States who works at the Russian embassy.

Dr. Moshkalo plays an important role in promoting Russian’s world-renown orchestras, musicians, dancers, choreographers and more to the United States, making sure that Americans learn about the best of Russian culture.

Right now, an unprecedented number of esteemed Russian artists are coming to Chicago because the University of Chicago is presenting “The Soviet Arts Experience� from October 2010 to January 2012. The program is a 16-month-long showcase of theater, art, dance, music, film, and lectures that were all created during the Soviet era.

One event that Dr. Moshkalo and I discussed during dinner was the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg’s performance of “Don Quixote,� which will take place at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University on April 21 and 23.

Russian Culture Now is planning a pre-performance reception for the company’s choreographer, Boris Eifman, and we would love to partner with Dr. Moshkalo for this event. Hopefully, his involvement will make the evening even more special!

Let’s hope Chicago continues to be a center for Russian culture in America!