TYLER SISTER CITIES NEWS RELEASE   TUESDAY – March 21
Betty Bower, president 903-593-9190  

The largest Sister Cities delegation ever hosted by Tyler Sister Cities, Inc., will arrive for a five day visit beginning Saturday, March 25 through March 30, to include the Yachiyo City, Japan, Boys and Girls Choir,  an adult group of citizens headed by Yachiyo Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Yachiyo Sister Cities President Michio Sugo.

Arrangements for the 86 member delegation visit is being coordinated through Kazue Johnson, Tyler/Yachiyo coordinator, and Yachiyo liaison chair Janet Hills, Felicity Reedy and Linda Sellers.  A special guest during the week will be Japanese Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo, Houston, who will speak on economic concerns of Japan, the U.S. and Europe at two sites: The University of Texas at Tyler on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Braithwaite Recital Hall, and the Tyler Junior College on Thursday at 10 a.m. (site to be announced).  Both lectures are open to the public without charge.

Concert performances by the choir and visits to cultural and historic Tyler sites are scheduled for the groups which are celebrating the choir’s 10^th anniversary of a 1996 visit to Tyler, and the long time relationship between the two Sister Cities which began in 1992 with an official twinning in Tyler.

The  Yachiyo  choir of 39 youth, ages 11 to 17, will be accompanied by their conductor, Mrs. Rikako Nagaoka, a staff of eight, and 15 chaperones.  The group, which tours throughout Europe, China, Japan, the Phillipines, Australia and the U.S., rehearses in Yachiyo twice weekly for two hours.  In addition to performing in traditional Japanese kimono attire, the group adds to authenticity with Japanese instruments. Following the Tyler tour, the group flies to New York for a concert at Ground Zero before returning to their homes in Japan.

Opening the Yachiyo Choir Tyler tour is their Friendship Concert on Sunday, March 26 at 4 p.m. at Marvin United Methodist Church sanctuary.  As part of the Marvin Methodist Fine Arts Concert Series under leadership of Frode Gunderson, a selection will be performed with the Marvin Wesley Children’s choir .   The program is open to the public without charge.  The Marvin United Methodist Women will entertain the Japanese youth a spaghetti supper following the concert. 

Both the Yachiyo youth choir and adult delegations will be honored by Tyler city officials on Monday, March 27, at 10 a.m. at City Hall.  Introductions by Mayor Joey Seeber and Mayor Toshiro Toyoda of Yachiyo, along with other city staff exchanges will follow.  The City of Tyler will host the adult delegations at lunch under direction of Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle, immediate past president of Tyler Sister Cities.

The choir departs for The University of Texas at Tyler at 11:15 a.m. Monday for a mini musical presentation for faculty and students at UC on the UT Tyler campus.  The public is invited to attend.  Dr. Richard Osburn and University of Texas at Tyler President Rod Mabry will greet the students, and host a pizza lunch following the program.

Afternoon activities of choir members include a campus tour and time at Tyler’s Science and Discovery Place museum.    

Overnight “home stays” with students of Hubbard Middle School will be provided Monday and Tuesday nights with Yachiyo students enjoying the evening meals and activities of typical Tyler youth.  They will return to home base, Holiday Inn Select,  the following morning in time for rehearsals and more concerts.

Adults of the Yachiyo group will enjoy a leisurely Monday afternoon prior to the traditional Welcome Banquet hosted by Tyler Sister Cities at the downtown Don Juan restaurant.   

The Tyler Independent School District hosts the Yachiyo youth in concert Tuesday, March 28, at 10 at Caldwell ElementaryArts  School auditorium.  Parents and school friends are invited to attend. Several TISD elementary schools will travel to Caldwell via bus for the concert.  George Faber, Fine Arts coordinator for TISD, also has planned a mini program that afternoon at Hubbard Middle School.  Students at Hubbard have had penpal ties with the Yachiyo youth for several years.

A Wednesday 7 p.m. Joint Concert with Tyler Junior College Harmony and Understanding musical group is scheduled at Wise Auditorium.  Dr. Cheryl Rogers of TJC and Mrs. Nagaoka have cooperated in previous joint programs in Yachiyo and Tyler.  Choir members will tour TJC campus and enjoy lunch prior to afternoon rehearsals.    

Adult members of Yachiyo Sister City will enjoy tours of the Kilgore Oil Museum, dinner at the area Country Tavern, lunch at Tyler Woman’s Building, tours of Opportunities in Tyler and Good Will, the Tyler Salvation Army facilities  and the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. 

A Farewell banquet for the Yachiyo guests and area residents who have visited Yachiyo in prior years, will be held Thursday, March 30 at Willowbrook Country Club at 5:30 p.m.  Special music will include the Robert E. Lee High School Swing Fiddlers, and area entertainer. Reservations are required.   

Tyler residents are invited to attend any of the concerts to meet Yachiyo Sister City members, and those interested in participating in dinners or lunches should make reservations through the Evelyn Muntz, at 903-597-5353 or  President of Tyler Sister Cities Betty Bower  at bbower@tyler.net.

Yachiyo and Tyler Sister Cities members have shared exchange opportunities since their initial twinning in May, 1992.  Currently three Tyler young women are in Yachiyo schools as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT), involved in language studies.  Over the past 13 years, a number of Tyler women have spent a year working in the Yachiyo School Board program.  Currently, openings for two women for ALT positions for the 2006-07 term seek applicants from the area.  Requirements include a four year College or University degree, age 25-35, female, with one year term contract.  Those interested may seek additional details through Sister Cities board member, Kazue Johnson, 903-581-5546.