Estonian refugee couple still promoting their homeland's culture in Atlanta – ERR

Estonian refugee couple still promoting their homeland’s culture in Atlanta  ERR

Estonian Honorary Consul in Atlanta Aadu Allpere and his wife Kristi Vuht-Allpere have spent years sharing their homeland's culture with Americans, calling it an "easy sell." Tallinn-born Allpere and Pärnu native Vuht-Allpere are both part of the generation of refugees displaced by World War II and Estonia's occupation. Allpere was nine when he arrived in the United States. He went on to study business and commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and spent 30 years at the Coca-Cola Company, including as president of its operations in Austria and five Eastern European countries. He now runs a healthcare center specializing in foot care. In 1993, Allpere and his wife returned to Atlanta, Georgia, where his work with Coca-Cola first brought them several decades prior.

He became Estonia's local honorary consul in town in 2011. Both are avid classical music fans and regular season-ticket holders at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Late last month, they organized a reception with visiting Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska, along with an exhibition on Estonian musical culture in the lobby of the Atlanta Symphony Hall. As soon as they had seen Poska's name on the upcoming season calendar, they knew they had to arrange something. "As Estonians, music is part of our soul," Allpere said. "Pair that with the fact that Estonian music is well known worldwide, and