The Obama administration quietly brought in a group of Iranian musicians to learn about American folk music. It was a small diplomatic gesture, but one the White House hoped would help ease tensions between the U.S. and Iran, two longtime foes. 

To mark what would have been Frank Sinatra’s centennial year, Duke University Professor Shalom Goldman explores Sinatra’s deep connection to Israel. [...] Goldman sat down with The Jerusalem Post to discuss the connection between Israel and American popular culture.

The U.S. Department of State praised the Carnegie tour as an important "cultural pillar"  for the two countries. Dignitaries from China and the United States attending the banquet included former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, Carnegie Hall Executive and Artistic Director, Clive Gillinson and renowned composer, Tan Dun.

Violinist Won Hyung Joon wants to bring North and South Korean musicians together next month to perform on each side of the world's most heavily armed border. Standing in the way is the rivals' long, frustrating inability to move past their painful shared history.

This is Suzi Analogue here. If you’re now tuning in, ki kati from Kampala, Uganda. I am here, live in East Africa, from NYC (by way of a handful of other dope East Coast cities) instructing a beatmaking class at a cultural center here for youth. My background is a producer/songwriter. The class is a part of a cultural diplomacy program called Next Level that shares hip-hop around the world as a way for us to promote peace and understanding worldwide.

Saturday, June 6, proved a musical, tasteful, and culturally astounding evening at the Washington Residence of the German Ambassador to the United States, where the Washington National Opera welcomed guests to its annual Opera Ball. Supporters of the Opera, including three Supreme Court justices, U.S. senators, and an array of ambassadors, filled the residence. The ball featured an immaculately decorated arena, delicious food, and jovial entertainment.

Commenting last week on Israel’s surprising ninth-place Eurovision finish, achieved thanks to votes from millions of usually anti-Israel Europeans, Avshalom Halutz of Haaretz wrote sarcastically that the dramatic improvement over previous results “seems to validate Israel’s decision...to send its carefree ‘Golden Boy’ party anthem to Eurovision, after years of trying in vain to find favor with the Europeans with apologetic and hypocritical songs about peace and tolerance, and failed gimmicks like candlelight or a duet between a Jewish and an Arab singer.” Despite being an exaggeration, ther