On Saturday, October 14th, His Royal Highness will tour Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians’ Village, which is being built for displaced New Orleans families and musicians. The tour, which includes a brief jazz concert, takes place from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm at 4000 North Roman Street.
The Crown Prince’s visit contains the following two media opportunities:
On Saturday, media is welcome to join HRH Crown Prince Haakon to tour Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians’ Village (meet 11:30 am). His Royal Highness, himself an avid jazz enthusiast, is treated to jazz music by new home owner Larry “Steamboat Willie” Stoops on the front porch of a newly built house from 12:30 pm to 12:40 pm. Media wishing not to participate in the tour but wanting to attend the concert may meet up at 12:15 pm. The Crown Prince is not scheduled to take questions at the Habitat for Humanity event.
On Sunday, HRH Crown Prince Haakon is welcomed by children with flowers at the church at 9:45 am. The Right Reverend Bishop Ole D. Hagesæther will lead the service from 10 am to 11:30 am. The main media opportunity is from 11:30 am to 12 noon as the Crown Prince inspects the corner stone of the current church, laid down by his grandfather King Olav V in 1968, and plants a 9-foot river birch tree before taking questions from media at 11:50 am. At noon the Crown Prince joins the congregation for church coffee before departing for the airport at 1 pm.
Following hurricane Katrina, the Norwegian Seamen's Church in New Orleans helped distribute funds collected by Norwegian jazz musicians at festivals and concerts in Norway to aid jazz musicians in New Orleans. Norway is known for its dynamic and experimental jazz scene.
HRH Crown Prince Haakon is no stranger to the United States, having earned his Bachelor of Political Science from University of California, Berkeley in 1999.
Media contact: Christian Hansson, Norwegian Embassy, 202-944-8930, cha@mfa.no.
Meets media at events: Kirsten Hammelbo, Norwegian Embassy, 202-413-6719 (cell).