Houston Mayor and President George Bush Sr. Celebrate Peace and Unity at the Houston Symphony – Milestone of Fall of Berlin Wall

Houston was fortunate to have been chosen as the kick-off city for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra as they begin a concert tour across the United States commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Houston is the sister-city of Leipzig, Germany, home of the Orchestra, and officials from both countries were in attendance, including Former US President George Bush Sr., Former First Lady Barbara Bush, and the wife of Former Secretary of State James Baker, Susan Baker. Mayor Anise Parker introduced delegates of Leipzig and the Orchestra’s music director Felix Mendelssohn.

Over 600 Houston area students were in attendance as were Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung, German Consul General Ricarda Redeker, and the Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association. Former President George Bush Sr. and Secretary James A. Baker III, the 61st U.S. Secretary of State, are honorary chairs of the concert, having served in critical roles leading up to and after the events in 1989 when the wall fell, ultimately paving the way for Germany’s unification in 1990. All were treated to beautiful and moving pieces by one of the world’s most accomplished Orchestras.