Madeleine Albright is quite the drummer

The former secretary of state got big applause at the Kennedy Center

Published September 25, 2012 3:37PM (EDT)

Madeleine Albright, at the World Economic Forum India summit in 2007.    (Wikipedia)
Madeleine Albright, at the World Economic Forum India summit in 2007. (Wikipedia)

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright got the biggest applause at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz gala at the Kennedy Center, because she is apparently an awesome drummer:

From the Washington Post:

"A longtime supporter of jazz who has worked with the Monk Institute for years, Albright received the annual Fisher Founder’s Award. After the customary speech of thanks, she went to a drum set and pounded away on tom-toms and cymbals — quite creditably — as trumpeter Chris Botti performed an instrumental version of 'Nessun dorma,' the aria from the Puccini opera 'Turandot.'"

Albright, who received the gala's annual Fisher Founder’s Award, had a similar exhibition at the Kennedy Center honors in February 2011. Skip to the 2:00 mark for Albright:


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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