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Tours and Travels

2025 China Residency, Oct. 16–17: Hangzhou—Shanghai

October 20, 2025
Photo: ©2025 Chris Lee
Oct. 16, On the bus from Hangzhou to Shanghai: The tour party traveled by bus to Shanghai. This was also Associate Concertmaster Christine Lim’s birthday, and she received a Labubu as a gift.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, On the bus from Hangzhou to Shanghai: Violist Marvin Moon takes advantage of the 2.5-hour bus ride to study some scores.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: Four Philadelphia Orchestra musicians were joined by four Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra musicians for a chamber music session on the Philharmonic’s campus. Violinist MuChen Hsieh and Assistant Concertmaster Marc Rovetti warm up backstage.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: MuChen, who is originally from Taiwan, acts as host.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: The group during the reading of Mendelssohn’s String Octet.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: The last notes of the Octet.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: The audience of ShanghaiTech students warmly applauds the musicians. ShanghaiTech is a unique school and a long-term partner of the Orchestra’s. Each student at the school, while focusing on technological studies, must also study music.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: The performers, Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Ryan Fleur, and several additional musicians of the Shanghai Philharmonic who were in the audience for the session pose for a photo after the event.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: The eight musicians participate in a group interview. They shared how, through music, they can connect to one another, even if they don’t speak the same language.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: Each musician was given a copy of the banner used to promote the event. Violist Che-Hung Chen unfurls his on the way to the bus back to the hotel.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: Shanghai at night.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: Everyone gathers at a local restaurant for a residency group dinner of Shanghai cuisine.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: China Advisor Maimay Wu (left) and Senior China Advisor Freda Wang pose with flowers given to them by the Orchestra in thanks for their invaluable work on the residency.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: Christine, Marvin, and MuChen are all celebrating birthdays within a week of each other. They are given birthday crowns and a special cake at the dinner.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 16, Shanghai: A portrait of the entire residency group.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Some of the musicians did some shopping before the residency activities began. Violinist Daniel Han and Marvin order custom suits. Daniel is very skilled in negotiations and always gets incredible deals for everyone.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Ryan participates in a panel discussion titled “Exploring New Possibilities for Cultural Exchanges between China and the U.S.” during the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Oct. 17, Shanghai: The Pudong District with the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: The musicians arrive at ShanghaiTech University and pass a giant poster for their side-by-side concert that evening with members of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). The Orchestra has collaborated with the SPO for several years, and the musicians have developed friendships with many of the musicians here over time.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Conductor Zhao Xiaoou, associate professor of conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, leads the rehearsal with pianist Kong Xiang-Dong.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: (L to r) Christine, MuChen, Eliot, Marc, Priscilla, cellist Alex Veltman, Che-Hung, and Marvin rehearse Mendelssohn’s Octet.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Daniel, Eliot, and violist Hsiang-Hsin Ching rehearse excerpts from Dvořák’s Miniatures.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: (L to r) Associate Principal Cello Priscilla Lee, Christine, Ryan, violinist Eliot Heaton, and Che-Hung participate in an interview at ShanghaiTech University.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Ryan speaks with Jiang Mianheng, president of ShanghaiTech University.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Marvin receives a special birthday dessert at the dinner provided by ShanghaiTech.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: A band of young musicians from a ShanghaiTech affiliate school opens the concert with a lively presentation of a piece called “The Fox.” Each musician was dressed in fox ears and a fluffy tail for the occasion.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Daniel, Eliot, and Hsiang-Hsin during their performance.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: A rapt listener in the audience. Many young people can often be seen at our performances in China, where there is a deep love for classical music across generations.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: The octet during their performance.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: The second half of the concert was devoted to two orchestral works. Maestro Zhao, Kong Xiang-Dong, and the ensemble perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: The final piece was Peng-Peng Gong’s “Peking Fantasy.” Peng-Peng attended the performance and performed on the piano during the work.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: All the participants gather on stage for a photo.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 17, Shanghai: Hsiang-Hsin signs an autograph for a fan after the performance.

Photo by Chris Lee