Mrs. Obama invites students from around the country to the White House Music Series, to meet the professional musicians

The Philadelphia music students understood that, they probably would not meet President Obama at a songwriting workshop at the White House yesterday. But they were a spot disappointed that first lady Michelle Obama wasn't there, either.

Mrs. Obama invites students from around the country to the White House Music Series, to meet the professional musicians and discuss their work. And yesterday's theme was country music, students got to talk with Grammy-winning country stars Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley.

The White House seems to be an enviable destination; the best stories were the students themselves. Yang Bao, 17, and a senior at the Girard Academic Music Program, brightened when asked about going to Washington and said that President Obama inspires him. Since "he only proved that everything is possible," said Bao, a Chinese immigrant.

Most of the Philadelphia students who attended the workshop are part of a summer Work Ready program and their summer job is to study music. Philadelphia was chosen for the honor by the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, which has been funding the music programs in Philadelphia, and other cities for the past 10 years.

As the program ended, students took pictures in the grand foyer at the north portico and Bao quietly walked over to Jay Orr, the vice president of museum programs for the Country Music Hall of Fame, who had moderated the program.