ĢƵ Symphony Orchestra Performs in Shanghai
Posted in: Cali School of Music News
For a music student, nothing quite surpasses the opportunity to perform on an international stage. For 20 ĢƵ Symphony Orchestra students in the John J. Cali School of Music, that opportunity came through a program with East China Normal University in Shanghai, China initiated by the Global Education Center and ĢƵ orchestra conductor Ken Lam.
The East China Normal University Orchestra previously visited ĢƵ in December 2013 for joint rehearsals and performances in New Jersey. That concert was special not only for the unique performances but for the cross-cultural collaboration afforded by the visit of the 19 Chinese students and five instructors from ECNU. “This is the first time we have ever been joined by such a large group of Chinese student musicians,” said Executive Director of International Affairs Marina Cunningham, noting at the time that ECNU has been a partner institution of ĢƵ State for more than a decade. “We are pleased to be able to continue our tradition of exchanging music ensembles with partner universities and conservatories.”
The return exchange took place May 23-31, 2015, again coordinated by the Global Education Center with the John J. Cali School. The 20 ĢƵ students and three accompanying ĢƵ State faculty members were hosted by the East China Normal University Orchestra for joint performances enjoyed by music audiences in Shanghai. Under the direction of Prof. Ken Lam, Conductor of the ĢƵ Symphony Orchestra and Chang Lin, Vice Chair of ECNU’s Music Department, they performed a program that included popular music (“A Salute to the Big Apple”), Chinese and Mongolian songs, an arrangement of Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy for flute and tenor, and other selections. ĢƵ also offered a chamber music concert with performances by students and with Dr. Robert Cart, Director of the Cali School of Music, on flute.
Dr. Cart noted the importance of this exchange, remarking that “other institutions in New Jersey have already established programs with Chinese universities. This, however, is the only one of its kind in the state. Such unique offerings solidify ĢƵ’s place in the international education community.”
The Cali School of Music has a newly established graduate-level exchange program with ECNU whereby their MFA in Music students may spend their second year at ĢƵ, where they’ll receive an International Artists’ Diploma. At the end of the three-year ECNU MFA in Music, the students who participate in this program will have received both the MFA from ECNU and the International Artists’ Diploma from ĢƵ. This trip to ECNU was, in part, to solidify and recruit for this new initiative.
In addition to the rehearsals and performances with their Chinese peers, the ĢƵ students also had an opportunity to step out and explore a bit of the cosmopolitan city around them. Many of these students have not traveled to Asia. In fact, several had never been outside of the United States. This trip helped our students cope with the rigors of being traveling artists while instilling knowledge and understanding of other cultures.