VOA标准英语--Afghan Youth Orchestra Goes From Kabul to Broadway

 

Afghan Youth Orchestra¹ Goes From Kabul to Broadway

 

The young performers and instructors² of the Afghan Youth Orchestra are used to snow in Kabul. And when a powerful storm dumped nearly 25 centimeters of the white powder on New York City, the second stop on the group's tour of the United States, it made them feel right at home.

While in the city that never sleeps, the young Afghans even got serenaded at a local diner where they sampled classic American food: cheeseburgers and fries.

The group travelled over 10,000 kilometers from Kabul to the United States, on a tour funded largely by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy³ in Afghanistan. The Taliban had banned the performance of music entirely⁴ when they ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.

Negeen, a member of the group from Kunar Province, said her favorite moment so far was a connection she made with the audience in Washington, D.C., earlier in the tour.

“A few minutes before the beginning of the concert, when we were sitting on the stage, there were Afghan women who were looking at us and weeping. It was so emotional, and I, myself, was almost weeping. I became so emotional in that moment.”

Others became emotional when they saw the bright lights of Times Square.

“I had seen New York City in pictures four or five years ago, and since then, I have been in love with New York,” said one member of the group in his native Dari adding these words in English: “I love New York.”

On Tuesday, the Afghan Youth Orchestra will perform in the world-famous Carnegie Hall. 

 

1 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

2 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

3 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。