50th Anniversary China Residency, November 11–12: Tianjin and Beijing

November 11 was a split day, with some of the musicians traveling to Tianjin for a community engagement event and performance at the Tianjin Juilliard School and the rest staying in Beijing for a side-by-side performance with members of the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra (NCPAO).

Nov. 11, Beijing: (L to r) English hornist Elizabeth Masoudnia, cellist John Koen, violinist Philip Kates, and violinist Yu-Ting Chen walk through Beijing’s South Station to catch the train to Tianjin. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: The roof of Tianjin’s Binhai Station. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the station took six and a half years to complete. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc., poses with Wei He, Tianjin Juilliard’s CEO and artistic director. Matías is on the Advisory Council of the Tianjin Juilliard School. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: The performance was a joint concert by musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Tianjin Juilliard School, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. It opened with Three Lanes of Plum Blossoms, a traditional Chinese piece performed on the gu qin and harp by musicians from the Tianjin Conservatory. The gu qin is a type of Chinese zither, a plucked seven-string instrument that has existed for 3,000 years. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: Yu-Ting, John, and Philip then took the stage for the first movement from Beethoven’s String Trio No. 3. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: The group was joined by Elizabeth for selections from Françaix’s Quartet. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: Faculty members from the Tianjin Juilliard School perform Ibert’s Three Short Pieces. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: Musicians from all four institutions close the concert with Hua Yanjun’s Moon Reflected on the Er-quan Spring conducted by Ken Lam, Tianjin Juilliard faculty member. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Tianjin: Yu-Ting with Ling Zhang, vice mayor of Tianjin, who spoke at the beginning of the concert. Tianjin and Philadelphia are sister cities, a relationship celebrating a 45-year anniversary next year. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (aka the Egg) lit up at night. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: Matías speaks at a Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau reception prior to the concert. Our travels have helped businesses decide to establish offices throughout Pennsylvania and have highlighted the state’s many tourist activities. We hope that some of the connections made here tonight may lead to further partnership with the Commonwealth. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: Violinist Willa Finck, the newest member of The Philadelphia Orchestra, waits backstage before the performance. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: Cellist Jan Vogler joined the musicians from the two orchestras for a performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: The concert was recorded for future broadcast on NCPA’s online platforms. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: The performance was led by NCPAO Resident Conductor Yifan Syn. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales poses for a selfie with a musician from the NCPAO. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: The combined cello section and Jan Vogler pose after the concert. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 11, Beijing: That night, after the concert, musicians met for drinks with Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre, who happened to be in town with Buffet Crampon, the French manufacturer of wind instruments, which he plays. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Today was a double rehearsal at the China Conservatory for the finals concert of the Global Education Music League Violin Competition. Wang Liguang, chairman of the Global Music Education League and president of the China Conservatory of Music, greets the musicians with Orchestra Executive Director Ryan Fleur. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Philadelphia Assistant Conductor Tristan Rais-Sherman leads the rehearsal. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: The finals concert not only features the Philadelphia musicians but also members of the Orchestra Academia China. Violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales looks over the score with her colleagues from the Orchestra Academia. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Three finalists will perform during the concert. Tristan and Joshua Brown during rehearsal. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Amy and Yu-Ting take a stroll on the way to lunch during the break between rehearsals. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Elli Choi, another finalist, was a student of Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Second Violin Kimberly Fisher and attended Kim’s Philadelphia International Music Festival so she knows many Orchestra musicians. Violinist Daniel Han catches up with Elli during a break in the rehearsal. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Chaowen Luo, the third finalist, in rehearsal. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: John Koen walks across the China Conservatory campus after the rehearsal to take the bus back to the hotel. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: That evening Martha Liao, iSING! co-founder, and Hao Jiang Tian, iSING! Suzhou co-founder and artistic director, hosted the Philadelphia delegation for a dinner in their home. “Echoes of Ancient Tang Poems,” originally produced at the iSING! Suzhou International Young Artists Festival, was given its United States premiere with The Philadelphia Orchestra in January 2023. Selections from the work were part of the Official 50th Anniversary Concert in Beijing on November 10. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: The delicious meal prepared by Martha. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: Hao Jiang Tian makes a toast. Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Nov. 12, Beijing: The entire group poses for a photo. Photo by Todd Rosenberg