The 10-day tour of Cuba marks the first visit to the island by the Philadelphia Boys' Choir
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May 5, 1999
Web posted at: 10:20 p.m. EDT (0220 GMT)

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- For the first time in its history, the world famous Philadelphia Boys' Choir is visiting Cuba for a 10-day concert tour, the latest in a series of cultural and sports exchanges between the Cold War foes.

"Many times we accept the challenge of going to countries that are politically not in tune with America or America's not in tune with them," said Bob Hamilton, the choir's director. "And we think this is the time to make music work where politics can't."

The cadre of American singers, more than 100 strong, was greeted at the Alejando Garcia Catooda music elementary school with chants of "Welcome, Philadelphia."

Hamilton said their reception in Cuba is among the warmest the choir has received in its travels, which include visits to about 40 countries during the last 30 years.

As one choir member put it, the visit is "something significant, like breaking the barriers, trying to get the countries together again."

Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman contributed to this report.

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