Vladimir Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington-Normal

Vladimir Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington-Normal The mission of the VCSCA is to further mutual understanding of the culture and people of Vladimir, Russia, and Canterbury, England.

The Vladimir/Canterbury Sister City Association was organized in 1986 as an extension of the citizen-to-citizen movement of Sister City International. Our projects and programs include a friendship garden, exchange visits with citizens, medical professionals, city officials, students and faculty, cultural exchanges in the performing arts and art exhibits, educational programs and speakers, and a speakers bureau to enhance community understanding through lectures and slide presentations.

02/23/2026

March, 2026 Events

Zoom Lecture Series > March 14 > Bill Kemp > the Kickapoo

On March 14th at 11am CDT, Bill Kemp from the McLean County Museum of History will do a Zoom presentation on the Kickapoo, located in McLean County. This will be for VCSCA members and our sister city friends in Vladimir and Canterbury.

A link to the talk will be published at a later date.

Feb. 19, 2026Igor Kalnin Student Musical Performance Video (from 11/11/’25)Three students of our board member, Igor Kaln...
02/23/2026

Feb. 19, 2026

Igor Kalnin Student Musical Performance Video (from 11/11/’25)

Three students of our board member, Igor Kalnin, presented a violin recital with music by three Russian composers. Igor spoke knowledgably about the music performed. We enjoyed the performances of these talented students.

Vladimir-Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington-Normal, ILNovember 11, 2025Shostakovich. Violin Concerto No. 1, Movements I and II – 06:18Brody Ma...

10/09/2025

November, 2025 Events

Annual Meeting/Movie -- November 3 at the Alumni Center at ISU Open to all association members. We will have a short Annual Meeting at 5:30pm in the Alumni Center at ISU on N. Main St. Following the brief meeting, we'll be showing the Russian film "Wings" about a woman who was a WWII fighter pilot and then has to adjust to civilian life as a school Principal after the war. An interesting note about this film is that one of the minor roles in the movie was played by an actor who started his career in the Vladimir Drama theatre. The Vladimir sister city members look forward to learning how we enjoyed the movie. Popcorn and beverages to be served. No charge for attending the movie.

Special Musical Performance -- On November 11 at 7:30 pm, please join us. We have a very special evening of music planned for my house (1 Alder Ct. Bloomington 61704). The very talented students of Igor Kalnin, who serves on our Board, will perform a recital of Violin Concertos by three different Russian composers. The students will be accompanied on the piano. Refreshments will be served after the recital. Seating is limited; so, please respond early if you would like to attend. RSVP by email to [email protected].

09/04/2025

π‘»π’‚π’Œπ’† 𝒂 π’π’π’π’Œ 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 π’π’†π’˜ π‘΅π’†π’˜π’”π’π’†π’•π’•π’†π’“ 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 2025. 4 π’‘π’‚π’ˆπ’†π’” π’šπ’π’– 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 π’˜π’‚π’π’• 𝒕𝒐 π’Žπ’Šπ’”π’”!

09/04/2025

𝑂𝑛 π‘‚π‘π‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ 18π‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘‘ 11:00 π‘Žπ‘š, π‘£π‘–π‘Ž π‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘š: π‘Šπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘› πΆπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π΄π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘…π‘œπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘™π‘’ πΊπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘™π‘’π‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘πΏπ‘’π‘Žπ‘› πΆπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘¦ π‘€π‘’π‘ π‘’π‘’π‘š π‘œπ‘“ π»π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦, π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘™π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘“π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘€π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘› π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘€π‘πΏπ‘’π‘Žπ‘› πΆπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘¦ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ π‘£π‘œπ‘™π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑑 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ˆ.𝑆. π‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘ π‘Šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ 𝐼𝐼, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘’π‘ , π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘£π‘’π‘‘. 𝐴 π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘˜ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘š 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  𝑖𝑛 π‘‚π‘π‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ.

09/04/2025

π‘Šπ‘–π‘™π‘™π‘–π‘Žπ‘š 𝐿 π‘Šβ„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’ πΌπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Žπ‘π‘’ πΉπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘š

𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑑. 15 π‘Žπ‘‘ 5:00𝑃𝑀/6:30𝑃𝑀 π‘Žπ‘‘ πΌπ‘†π‘ˆ > π΅π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑆𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑 πΆπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ > 𝑂𝑙𝑑 π‘€π‘Žπ‘–π‘›. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 π·π‘Ÿ. 𝐴𝑙𝑒π‘₯𝑖𝑠 π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘˜ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›. π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑠 π‘Žπ‘‘ 5:00 π‘π‘š π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘˜ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑠 π‘Žπ‘‘ 6:30 π‘π‘š. 𝐴 π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘“π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘– 𝑖𝑠 π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘†π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦, 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑑. 14π‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π΅π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘‘π‘œπ‘› πΆπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝐢𝑙𝑒𝑏. π‘Šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘β„Ž π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘–π‘›π‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘β„Ž 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘œπ‘œπ‘›.

𝐴𝑙𝑒π‘₯𝑖𝑠 π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘– 𝑖𝑠 π‘Žπ‘› π΄π‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘“π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ π»π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘Žπ‘‘ π΅π‘œπ‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘› π‘ˆπ‘›π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘¦. π‘†β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘π‘’π‘π‘™π‘–π‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘‘ π·π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘ˆπ‘›π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€π‘› πΉπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘: π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘…π‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘’ πΆπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’ 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑛 π΄π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘†π‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘’π‘‘ π‘Šπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘› (π»π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘£π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘ˆπ‘›π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘ , 2024), π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘β„Ž π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’.

09/04/2025

π™Šπ™£ π™Žπ™šπ™₯π™©π™šπ™’π™—π™šπ™§ 13 𝙖𝙩 7:30 π™₯𝙒 π™žπ™£ π™†π™šπ™’π™₯ π™π™šπ™˜π™žπ™©π™–π™‘ 𝙃𝙖𝙑𝙑 π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘π‘’π‘  π‘œπ‘“ πΌπ‘™π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘œπ‘–π‘  π‘†π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘ˆπ‘›π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ (πΌπ‘†π‘ˆ), π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π·π‘’π‘œ π‘€π‘’π‘šπ·π‘–, π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘“ πΌπ‘”π‘œπ‘Ÿ πΎπ‘Žπ‘™π‘›π‘–π‘›, π΄π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘‘-π‘‡π‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‰π‘–π‘œπ‘™π‘–π‘› π‘Žπ‘‘ πΌπ‘†π‘ˆ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑉𝐢𝑆𝐢𝐴 π‘π‘œπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑀𝑖𝑓𝑒, π‘…π‘œπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘™π‘’ 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑑, π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘“π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ π‘ƒπ‘–π‘Žπ‘›π‘œ π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ˆπ‘›π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ πΌπ‘™π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘œπ‘–π‘ , 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘š 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘“π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘  𝑏𝑦 π΅π‘Žπ‘β„Ž, π»π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜, π‘ƒπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘π‘’, π‘†π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‡π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘–π‘˜π‘œπ‘£π‘ π‘˜π‘¦. π΄π‘‘π‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘› 𝑖𝑠 π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’.

π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ π·π‘’π‘œ π‘€π‘’π‘šπ·π‘– 𝑖𝑠 π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘š π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘’π‘šπ‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘ π‘π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ , π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘“π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘  π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘  𝑏𝑦 π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘œπ‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘π‘ .

Take a look at our new Newsletter for Winter 2025. 4 pages of terrific information.
03/12/2025

Take a look at our new Newsletter for Winter 2025. 4 pages of terrific information.

vcsca-newsletter-2025-winterDownload

12/02/2024

Zoom Lecture Series > Next up is . . .
December 7, 2024 – Holidays Traditions sharing – Canterbury, Vladimir, and Bloomington-Normal.

Annual Meeting -- December 12 at 7:00PM at the newly-renovated Bloomington Public Library Community RoomOpen to all asso...
12/02/2024

Annual Meeting -- December 12 at 7:00PM at the newly-renovated Bloomington Public Library Community Room

Open to all association members.

We are incredibly lucky to have as our Annual Meeting guest speaker and performer Professor Igor Kalnin. A relatively new member of the Vlaldimir Canterbury Sister City Association, Prof. Kalnin grew up in Nizhny Novgorod not far from Vladimir and is currently on the faculty at Illinois State University. He is also the concertmaster of the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra in Michigan and Associate Concertmaster of Sinfonia da Camera in Champaign-Urbana. Dr. Kalnin graduated with distinction from the Balakirev Music College and has graduate and post-graduate diplomas from Glinka State Conservatory in Nizhny Novgorod, an Artist Diploma from Yale University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University. In addition, he has won numerous prizes in international and national violin and chamber music competitions in the United States, Europe, and Russia.

Dr. Kalnin will be speaking about his experience growing up in Soviet Russia and will play his violin for us. You are in for a real treat at this year's Annual Meeting. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. You won't want to miss this very special program. Election of officers will follow Dr. Kalnin's performance. Refreshments will be served.

RSVP to Margaret Ann Hayden at [email protected]

Free MovieOCTOBER 7, 2024 - 4:30PMIllinois State University Alumni CenterWe invite you to the showing of the "Barber of ...
10/05/2024

Free Movie
OCTOBER 7, 2024 - 4:30PM
Illinois State University Alumni Center

We invite you to the showing of the "Barber of Siberia" on Monday, Oct. 7, 4:30pm at the ISU Alumni Center. We'll have popcorn, bottled water, and candy to enjoy. You'll love the film. Bring a friend or two! There will be lots of room and plenty of snacks.
Sponsored by the Vladimir-Canterbury Sister City Association.

07/25/2024

We are happy to announce this year's Zoom lecture series.

*** All at 11am central time ***

September 21, 2024 – Canterbury Through the Eyes of Olga Zolotova by Irina Lapshina of Vladimir

October 2024 (specific date to be determined) The life and music of African-American composer Florence Price (1887-1953) by Jake Woollen, Assistant Conductor of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra

December 7, 2024 – Holidays Traditions sharing – Canterbury, Vladimir, and Bloomington-Normal.

January 25, 2025 – American Home in Vladimir

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Bloomington, IL
61704

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