Dear friends, patrons and volunteers,

Thank you for making the Second Bosnia International Music Festival (BIMF) a pure success!

The festival’s four concerts, featuring performances by renowned members of global music classical scene, including Colorado String Quartet, Mykola Suk, Ursula Oppens, have attracted over 650 people. In addition, extensive media coverage, extending beyond Sarajevo to the rest of Europe and United States has ensured festival’s visibility.

Despite of the fact that there were unforeseen challenges and circumstances due to the fog in Sarajevo, the organization of the festival was executed seamlessly, due in no small part by the tireless vast efforts of the festival’s artists, Board members, friends and volunteers. In these very difficult circumstances due to the fog, all of festival’s artists have arrived safely to Sarajevo, and were determined to help festival succeed. All events took place, all master classes were held free of charge for students at Sarajevo Music Academy. In addition, the positive feedback I received from people of Sarajevo assured me that Bosnia International Music Festival is an important part of cultural life of Bosnia and Herzegovina and I now even more strongly believe that we must continue to extend its mission in the upcoming years. Even under such extreme fog, our concerts were tremendous success, and we had so much audience that many of them had to stand, and we even had people seated on the stage behind the performers, since all seats were taken. And that itself tells about the need for such cultural event in Sarajevo. Also, since after huge success of first concert by Colorado String Quartet, and great interaction between artists and audience, there was clear need to organize a reception. The reception took place on December 2^nd, after second concert by Colorado String Quartet, and audience had wonderful opportunity to interact with festival’s artist in beautiful atmosphere and surroundings of Bosniak Institute and refreshments were provided as well. Unfortunately, Mr Jerome Lowenthal from Juilliard School of Music had fell on a way to the rehearsal, and due to dislocation of his finger was not able to perform. Therefore, our fifth concert had to be canceled. However, even though he spent half day at Medical Clinic, he was determined to at least teach the students in the afternoon, which indeed happened. And – this also tells about huge determination of festival’s artists to festival’s success!

For that reason, I am pleased to announce that we have already begun planning for the Third Bosnia International Music Festival. We strive for the possible future prosperity of Festival’s mission and would welcome your thoughts and suggestions, as well the possibility of collaborating with you in the planning process.

In addition, to enable us to continue the legacy of the Bosnia International Music Festival, we are also looking for donations, so if you or someone else you know is interested in making a contribution, please let me know. As show of appreciation, all donors will be recognized in our brochure, distributed to the audiences at the event, as well as in all of our press materials and on our Web site.

I am positive that we all enjoy the same support, attention and appreciation we received this year and once again, greatly appreciate what each of you has done to make it happen.

Kindest regards,

Zemira Maslesa

BIMF Director

Sarajevo, 7^th December, 2006.