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Tours and Travels

2024 China, October 27–29: Philadelphia—Brussels—Beijing

October 30, 2024

The Philadelphia Orchestra begins its 2024 China Tour and Residency

The Philadelphia Orchestra has embarked on its 2024 China Tour and Residency, the first time since 2019 that the full ensemble has traveled to China. Led by Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop, the tour includes concerts and residency activities in Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu (a first for the Philadelphians), and Haikou (the first American orchestra to travel to Hainan province). The tour continues the momentum begun in November 2023 when a small ensemble traveled to China for residency activities that commemorated the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic 1973 Tour of China, the first by an American orchestra. This current visit coincides with 45 years of official U.S.-China diplomatic relations and will mark the 45th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Philadelphia and Tianjin and the Orchestra’s 13th tour of China—the most by any American orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2024 Tour of China is made possible through the generous support of Lead Sponsor Bank of China, Premiere Sponsor Hainan Airlines, and the Ford Foundation.

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Principal Harp Elizabeth Hainen arrives at Philadelphia International Airport.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang received his passport and boarding pass from Director of Orchestra Operations and Touring Michelle Zwi.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: The tour party waits to check in.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: The Orchestra traveled on a direct flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport, thanks to a sponsorship from Hainan Airlines, which provided a special charter flight on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft for the tour party and its cargo, consisting of 131 people, more than 170 instruments and bows, and nearly 12 tons of cargo.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop is greeted at the airport by (l to r) cellist John Koen, Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall, and violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky and Pubin Liang, general manager of Hainan Airlines’s U.S. office, shake hands after a ceremonial signing of the sponsorship agreement.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Orchestra musicians and staff pose with Hainan Airlines crew members at the airport.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: The Hainan Airlines crew wrote personalized welcome cards for each member of the Orchestra on the flight.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Cellist Derek Barnes and Associate Principal Clarinet Samuel Caviezel are about to board the plane.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Matías gets to sit in the captain’s seat prior to take off.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán settles in for the long flight. This is his first tour with the Orchestra, having become a member only six weeks ago.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Principal Bass Joseph Conyers and violist Marvin Moon pose on the plane.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: One of many palettes containing the Orchestra’s cargo as it prepares to get loaded onto the plane.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Musicians, including violist Burchard Tang, Marvin Moon, Associate Principal Trumpet Jeffrey Curnow, and Associate Principal Timpani and percussionist Angela Zator Nelson toast to a safe journey and a successful tour.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Violinist Daniel Han and First Associate Concertmaster Juliette Kang model the pajamas provided by Hainan Airlines.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 27, Philadelphia: Matías thanks Hainan Airlines and welcomes everyone to the tour.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct 27, Philadelphia—Brussels: Amy Oshiro-Morales poses with some of the Hainan Airlines crew members.
Oct. 28, Brussels: The flight made a brief stop in Brussels to refuel and to change some of the crew members. Flutist Olivia Staton takes advantage of the refueling to get some fresh air.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: The tour party arrives in Beijing in the early hours of the morning.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Manager of Civic Affairs Kristen Chun, who had traveled to China early, greets the tour party at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Musicians wait to board the buses to their hotel.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall calls her family back home to let them know she’s arrived safely.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: (L to r) Violists Burchard Tang and Che-Hung Chen, a Dodgers fan, and Principal Percussion Chris Deviney tuned in to game 3 of the World Series at the hotel. Che-Hung was very pleased by the outcome of the game as the Dodgers took a 3–0 lead in the series.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: The staff gathered for a meeting at the hotel soon after arrival.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Today was a free day for the musicians, so many went sightseeing and shopping. Cellist John Koen gets fitted for a new suit.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Violinist Mei Ching Huang checks her prescription for some new glasses.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Trumpeter Tony Prisk chose to do a little practicing in his room.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Some musicians ventured to Beihai Park, a former imperial garden located just north of the Forbidden City. Here the White Pagoda on Jade Flower Island is photographed at sunset.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Another view of Beihai Park.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Oct. 29, Beijing: Musicians and staff gathered at Liuzhai Restaurant for a celebratory dinner for Co-Principal Trombone Matthew Vaughn’s birthday.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg