CCIP J-1 interns (www.theccip.com) traveled to Cunningham Park on Thursday, June 15, to enjoy the music of the New York Philharmonic. The free event, which began at 8 pm, included powerful performances of the works of renowned composers Antonin Dvorak, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin. Immediately following the concert, the night was filled with an impressive fireworks display.

While there, the exchange visitors took the opportunity to interact with many of the other attendees and discuss their reasons for being in the city. By the time the night sky was lit up by the colorful explosions of dazzling fireworks, the exchange visitors had already enjoyed one of the defining experiences of their time in the city.

"It was a beautiful night to be in the park," said Lai Man from Nanyang Technological University. “As someone who has a deep appreciation for orchestra music, I really enjoyed being able to catch the New York Philharmonic in such a setting. There were locals and people from all over who came down for the performance and fireworks, and everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves.”