Programs and Events 2009
U.S. Beat Boxer Jazzes Up Estonian Youth
From April 6 to April 23, U.S. beatboxer Napoleon Maddox helped Estonian youth celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month by learning more about beatboxing. Beatbox as a hip hop style is extremely popular among local youth regardless of the ethnic origin and serves as a perfect means of interaction between Russian and Estonian speaking youth. The Estonian Jazz Union hosted Maddox with help from Embassy Tallinn. The union organized eight beatbox workshops with follow-on concerts in Tallinn and in the predominantly Russian-speaking northeast region of Estonia.
In addition to the workshops, Napoleon Maddox performed at the 20th JazzKaar Festival held from April 18 – 26, and beatboxed at the gala opening of the festival on April 18. Over 2,500 Estonians attended these workshops and concerts during the nearly three weeks Maddox spent in Estonia.
In addition to his workshops and concerts, Maddox also worked with Estonian National Television's internationally-recognized “Girls Choir,” performing with the choir and the best of his 120 workshop participants at a concert at KUMU (the National Art Museum) on April 19. The KUMU concert hall was standing-room-only as Maddox introduced an audience of young and old alike to the subtle nuances beatboxing. His active integration outreach to students received extensive media coverage.