Yesterday (Thursday, June 13), the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP, www.theccip.com) FUSIA/CCIP J-1 interns had a true New York experience. The group attended an outdoor performance of the New York Philharmonic in Cunningham Park. The concert series began in 1965 and has thrilled local and international attendees ever since.

Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, this year’s series included four separate evenings of music by the New York Philharmonic. In Cunningham Park on Thursday, the interns joined thousands of fellow music lovers who brought blankest and picnic meals. The show included an arrangement of compositions by Rossini, Copeland, Rachmaninoff, and local young composers from the city.

"The music was beautiful, and the setting was even more so," remarked Kevin, who is interning with Aithent, Inc. this summer. Patrick who studies at City University of Hong Kong, who helped coordinate the activity, added, "Listening to classical music in a park in New York City is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life."

The previous Sunday, the interns had come to Cunningham Park as volunteers. The group helped with a variety of park beautification projects. To return later in the week and enjoy the park as temporary members of the community was a nice reward for their hard work. After the concert ended, attendees were wowed by a fireworks display.