New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra) January 7, 2017 will mark the much-anticipated opening of Youth
Music Culture Guangdong (YMCG), a new 2-week-long, annual cultural event bringing together young musicians for musical training, artistic appreciation, and cultural exchange. This first-time endeavor is the brainchild of renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who will serve as the program's Artistic Director.
Presented by the Department of Culture of Guangdong Province and organized by the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and Xinghai Concert Hall, the event will culminate in a concert on January 17th with a concert by the YMCG Orchestra and Yo-Yo Ma.
Yo-Yo Ma, Artistic
Director of YMCG "Cultural Citizenship"
YMCG is open to musicians and students between the ages of 18 and 35 from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The program is designed not only to promote virtuosity and musicality, but also to foster cultural awareness and personal artistic development within the context of a broader society. Says Yo-Yo Ma, "I believe that any musician or artist should not only be technically proficient, but also be mindful of the power of their art and the need for it in the world."
Students will have the opportunity to experience a series of concerts, presentations, master classes, improvisation workshops, and cultural exchange events. All students selected will receive a full-tuition scholarship with expenses covered for the duration of the program.
About the Faculty
Yo-Yo Ma has distinguished himself over the last three decades as a leading face of classical music. In 2011 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his collaborations with virtually every major classical artist have won him 18 Grammy Awards.
YMCG will be led by team of all-star performers and educators from around the globe, each hand-selected by Yo-Yo Ma himself. Maestro Michael Stern of the Kansas City Symphony will serve as conductor and
Music Director. Other faculty include members of top symphony orchestras and members of Yo-Yo Ma's Grammy-nominated Silk Road Ensemble.
YMCG follows a tradition of superior musical training in the province of Guangdong in recent years, including the Canton International Summer
Music Academy and the Canton Asian
Music Festival. The program this season will include Beethoven's Eighth Symphony and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. Tickets will be available at a low cost to the public, with certain performances offered free of charge.
