Dear members and friends:
During the first Chinese Lunar New Year of this millennium year, the US-China Foundation successfully arranged a trip for a Young Chinese Musician Delegation from China to perform in the United States from January 23rd to February 5th, 2001. This delegation was comprised of the most talented young artists in China today, and some of the members took part in the Young Chinese Pianists Delegation, which was sponsored by the US-China Foundation last year. Following the great successful activities of the Young Chinese Pianists Delegation of 2000, and complying with many requirements both in China and America, USCF decided to organize a Young Chinese Musician Delegation to perform in the USA on 2001. The delegation of 2001 not only included young topnotch piano players, but also 14 young saxophone players. These saxophone players used to perform to the central leaders of China, including President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji. The delegation was led by Mr. Tang Liuyi, a famous pianist from China Central Symphony Orchestra, and supported by Ms. Bao Huiqiao, a well- known pianist and the Vice- Chairman of the China Musicians Association. Ms. Bao was the Performance Director of the delegation when the children had rehearsals and performances in America. The first and the most formal performance of this trip was at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on January 25th at 7:30PM. For this performance, the children not only played many traditional western pieces, but also some Chinese folk pieces in mode of one piano and four hands. To show the symbolism of friendship between young generations of Chinese and American, USCF also invited young American music stars to perform at the same stage. The performance was so successful that the audience stood up and burst into thunderous applause as soon as these children finished performance. On the second day of the performance, many major media specially reported this performance, including PBS, CNN, World and China Press, and etc. To follow the New York performance, some of the young artists gave another formal performance at Boston MIT Kresge Theatre on January 27th, and those not involved in Boston's performance stayed in NY for a Chinese Lunar
New Year Celebration Performance, which was co-sponsored by the USCF. These two performances received high praise by the audiences. On January 31st, the delegation went to Washington DC to give a performance to the people of the World Bank at IFC Auditorium. Around 500 people attended with great interest, and enjoyed musical works of European, Chinese and Russian masters.
Following all of the formal performances, the delegation went to the Newark Community School of Arts to give an exchanged performance to the children and their parents on February 3rd afternoon. Besides all of these activities, the young musicians went to the JCC organization to bring a world of melodic innovation and good will to the old people who live there.
In the mist of their busy performing schedule, the delegation visited various landmarks in New York, Boston and Washington DC. From this trip to the USA, these young musicians gained much experience in performances, and learned different cultural backgrounds and customs of the United States as well.
On February 5th, the delegation achieved their goal of experiencing a new movement of Sino-US friendship and successfully completing their visit in the United States, and flew back to Beijing.
