NYC Gazette

The Tianjin Juilliard School, in collaboration with The Juilliard School, has announced the upcoming Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum. This event is set to take place from May 26 to 31, 2025, in Tianjin, China. It will bring together young musicians and leaders from thirty major conservatories and music schools worldwide to explore the orchestral experience and discuss the future of professional music education.

Joseph W. Polisi, Juilliard’s president emeritus and chief China officer, remarked on the significance of this gathering: “The Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum provide a special opportunity for music conservatory leaders and students from around the world to come together, meaningfully discuss the most important issues of our time related to music performance and education, and make music in a unique setting.”

Participants include institutions from Greater China such as Central Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts among others; alongside international institutions like Aspen Music Festival and School, Curtis Institute of Music, Royal Academy of Music (London), Yale School of Music among others.

Damian Woetzel, president of Juilliard, emphasized the initiative's global impact: “A landmark initiative... advance the future of musical performance and education. This Symposium reflects our enduring commitment to cultivating artistic excellence... underscoring the vital role of music in building connections.”

Wei He, CEO and artistic director at The Tianjin Juilliard School stated: “At Tianjin Juilliard... we hope that this initiative will help support the development of a vibrant and sustainable musical landscape in the region.”

The event aims to celebrate diverse orchestral traditions through workshops, rehearsals, performances culminating in an orchestral concert on May 30 at Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall conducted by David Robertson. The program includes works by Zhou Long among others.

In addition to performances, a Leadership Forum will be held from May 27-29 focusing on "The Global Music Performance and Education Environment: Must the Paradigm Change?" It aims to foster dialogue among leaders about cultural exchange and educational strategies across various countries.

Further details are available at tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn.