How were the bands and artists selected for this historic event?
Bud personally knows and has played with the members of "Lost Highway," "Chris Stuart and Backcountry," and "Eric Uglum and Sons." Based on their solid credentials from prior touring experiences overseas, we were confident that these bands would be a hit in Oman, and they were.

What part did Bud Bierhaus have in the process?
Bud is a well-known American businessman who has lived in Oman for several years. He has a broad range of friends in Oman, which he drew upon to arrange several concerts not only for Omanis, but for the American community as well.

If other bands want to perform in your country or other Middle Eastern countries, what advice can you give them to prepare and find opportunities?
I would advise them to contact the State Department’s bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The State Department often sponsors performers to tour internationally.

Do you expect to bring more bluegrass music to your country?
As a follow-up to the tremendous response we experienced to their performances, we hope to sponsor a second Bluegrass music event next month at a local Omani College. Bud has agreed to show us what he can do.

Did these bands perform for the general public or only for private engagements?
Both. During the two weeks they were here, they put on a range of public and private concerts. They also led music appreciation and teaching sessions at the American School. One focus for the trip was the annual Muscat Festival, a month-long cultural and entertainment event that attracts millions of Omanis and others. The bands’ first concert was there, open to the public, and enjoyed by hundreds of people. I also hosted a special performance at my house for a group that included Omanis and Americans.

What do you hope to achieve for your country with these performances?
We wanted to promote a better understanding of who we Americans are as a people. Anyone who listened to the individual introductions of each band member could not help but be impressed with the geographical and social diversity of the players. This was an excellent way of providing an alternative view of American society, one that stands in contrast to what is commonly seen from Hollywood and satellite TV broadcasts.

Are these performances part of a cultural exchange program and, if so, what will Oman be presenting in the United States?
The performances were not part of any specific exchange program. However, during my tour as Ambassador I’ve worked to help Americans get a good idea of what Oman is all about and to understand the depth of our longstanding and excellent bilateral relationship with the Sultanate. For example, I took the initiative to secure Oman’s 2005 participation in the annual Smithsonian Institution’s "Folklife Festival" held on the National Mall in Washington. Oman was the first Arab country to be featured in a solo exhibit and was a smashing success. An overwhelming majority of American visitors said that as a result of the exhibit, they would be very interested in visiting Oman. There is a certain irony in this because the Sultan of Oman sent a ship to New York in 1840 that carried not only the first Arab ambassador to become resident in the U.S., but also gifts for President Van Buren. Those gifts eventually were among the first holdings of the subsequently established Smithsonian Institution.

Bluegrass music has a strong Christian foundation with gospel music being a significant part of the genre. Were there any issues surrounding this?
No. As a seafaring nation, Oman has a long history of interaction with different cultures and faiths. Nearly a hundred years ago, American Christian missionaries came to Oman and established the first hospital in the country, as well as a school. Omanis are very tolerant and moderate in their outlook, and generally welcome those of other faiths.

Is there a style of music performed in the Middle East that resembles bluegrass music in any way?
Omani traditional music resembles Bluegrass in the sense that instruments are acoustic and there is sometimes a vocalist. Like bluegrass, Omani traditional music has roots in the rhythms and cadences of Africa. Of course, there are significant differences as well. But as the bluegrass performers themselves stressed, "music is the international language."

One of the bluegrass artists participating in this event is Chris Stuart. Chris will try to bring the "Bluegrass in the Schools" materials with him that include the "Discover Bluegrass" DVD. How do you plan to present bluegrass music as an educational program?
The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) serves the expatriate community, and was one of the performance venues where Chris and the other bands put on a day of workshops. It was very well received by the school, and attracted the participation of many of the young people there.

Will the bluegrass educational program be limited to The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) or will there be a broader scope?
Your question suggests that the TAISM student body consists only of Americans. In fact, Americans are a minority there. TAISM has students from more than 45 foreign countries. It is an American school in that it is certified as such and maintains an American curriculum.

Tell us about the Muscat Festival and the Ambassador's residence.
The Festival was a public event that drew hundreds of thousands of visitors during its month-long existence. A growing number of foreign countries participate, some from the private sector. In addition to the Bluegrass concert, American participation this year included some stuntmen and a jazz group from South Carolina. The event at the residence was a private affair for about 50 people on an invitation-only basis.

Will the State Department be sharing the experience with other Middle Eastern countries so that bluegrass may be presented in the neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Yemen?
That is a question for the respective embassies and the Department of State to address. All of our embassies in the region are aware of what we did here.

Please share with us any other thoughts you have regarding this event and its historic significance to bluegrass music.
I would like to thank all those who worked so hard to make this tour happen. It is always a pleasure to see our culture represented overseas. The best selling point for America is Americans. And the best selling point Oman is Omanis. Bringing our two great peoples together is a goal we constantly work towards.

The educational value of such events flows both ways. While the Omanis who heard their music were very positively impressed with bluegrass in particular and America in general, I think the musicians also learned a lot about this part of the Middle East. Despite media headlines of violence and terrorism, the reality is that people in this part of the world are warm, open, and hospitable. Just as the bluegrass bands helped correct certain distortions about the United States, I think the performers also left Oman with a different, and positive, view of Arabs in general and Omanis in particular.

Cybergrass would like to thank Ambassador Baltimore for his time and congratulate him on achieving what others had tried.

Seed Newsvine