On 27 October 2017, young performers from the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and the Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA) joined forces to wow an audience at the Shanghai Symphony Hall building. The concert was the first of a series of concerts under the EU-China Orchestra Exchange Programme, organised by the Delegation of the European Union to China as part of its two-year #ExperienceEurope public diplomacy campaign.

Mozart’s Serenade No. 12. Ravel‘s Introduction and Allegro. These are some of the finest works in the European orchestral music tradition. Today, young musicians from the EUYO and SOA together brought forth these and other works by world-renowned composers to showcase the power and heritage of classical music; to strengthen the ties between European and Chinese citizens; and to display the skills of some of the world’s future musical luminaries.

Marshall Marcus, CEO of EUYO remarked, "We are delighted to be involved in the EU's Experience Europe campaign, and wish to thank the EU delegation to China for selecting the Orchestra as the EU's young musician representatives. Increasing understanding between cultures is at the very heart of the EUYO's mission, and so we are particularly pleased not only to be performing once again in China, but to be part of this important cultural project with our Global Exchange Partner, the Shanghai Orchestra Academy."

Over the week prior to the show, both sides worked closely together to fine tune their performances through rehearsals. Wang Gang, SOA percussion student of Class of 2017 mentioned at the event, “My EUYO mates and I will bring out the best in minimalist percussion works. With a composition of pure components, and with our recomposition of the piece, we hope to give audiences a percussion experience which differs from tradition! During the rehearsal and communication process, I exchanged my views on music with the EUYO musicians; we engaged in deep conversations about our different cultures and traditions, and even taught each other expressions in other languages! The whole camp was fantastic with exciting events. And I hope the memory and friendship from this music experience can translate into deeper and more splendid cultural value.”

Exchange programmes are important parts of the people-to-people dialogue which underpins the friendship and cultural understanding between the European Union and China. As the musicians of the EUYO and SOA filled the hall with notes from some of the greatest works from both regions, they also served as representatives of their respective cultures. By performing at the concert, “[I hoped] to experience other music cultures and languages, other points of view about the European music that we know,” says EUYO violinist Jakub Przybycien.

Jakub demonstrates the extremely high calibre of young musicians on both sides. He is no stranger to the international world of music, having taken part in many international festivals during his time with EUYO. These include the BBC Proms Festival in London, MISA Festival in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi Festival, Robeco Summer Nights Festival in Amsterdam, Zermatt Festival in Switzerland and many more. “Working with great musicians around the world always brings inspiration as well as new friendships,” he says.

Feeling sorry that you missed it? Just wait till next year. The EU #ExperienceEurope campaign will host two more concerts in the series, in 2018 and 2019. 

For more information on the event or other activities of the Delegation of the European Union to China, use the following QR code to follow the #ExperienceEurope WeChat campaign account:

Event details

Date:                     27 October 2017, 7:45pm – 9:00pm

Location:                              Shanghai Symphony Hall

Repertoire:         Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenade No. 12 for winds in C minor, K.388, first movement

Steve Reich: Drumming, Part 1 for 4 pairs of tuned bongo drums

Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet

PyotrIllych Tchaikovsky: String Sextet in D minor, Op.70 "Souvenir de Florence"

About the European Union Youth Orchestra

The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) was founded in 1976 and has been a Cultural Ambassador for the European Union for forty years. It is a unique symphony orchestra with members drawn from every single one of the 28 EU Member States. EUYO has worked with many of the world’s greatest musicians including Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Herbert von Karajan, Mstislav Rostropovich. As a popular international orchestra, EUYO has performed in many well-known major concert halls in more than 40 countries, such as Royal Albert Hall, the Musikverein, Carnegie Hall and the Boston Symphony Hall.

About the Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA)

The Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA) is the result of a partnership among the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Its inaugural class began in September 2014. Maestro Long Yu, Music Director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, serves as the President of the Academy. Designed to address the need for advanced, post-graduate orchestral training at the highest level of technique and musicianship, the SOA provides rigorous training at the Master’s degree level for talented instrumentalists. The teaching curriculum includes private lessons, chamber music coaching, repertoire classes, mock auditions and professional seminars.

About #ExperienceEurope

Over May 2017-April 2019, the #ExperienceEurope campaign by the Delegation of the European Union to China will entertain Chinese audiences as it informs them about the history, policies, values, economy, culture and lifestyle of the EU, its 28 Member States and its 500 million citizens through a series of 24 monthly topics in the form of social media posts, online competitions, podcasts, infographics, and animated videos. The overall #ExperienceEurope campaign will also feature cultural events, four large policy forums, and a series of public lectures on issues such as peace and prosperity, the environment, education, trade, and many other topics of interest.