Shirley Young at the 2019 China Now Music Festival Gala at Carnegie Hall. Photo by Chris Lee.
The US-China Music Institute and the Bard College Conservatory of Music mourn the passing of Conservatory Advisory board member, and dear friend of the US-China Music Institute, Shirley Young. We will greatly miss her advice, activism for young musicians, and deep passion for music. She led our hugely successful China Now Music Festival gala fundraiser in fall of 2019 and was, at the time of her death, leading new initiatives for the US-China Music Institute. She was a pioneer for the development of economic ties between the US and China and, through her example, for all women in the world of business. She was also a tireless and generous supporter of many arts organizations—including the Conservatory. She was a force of nature and the Conservatory community will miss her wisdom and leadership enormously.
The US-China Music Institute will be dedicating its February 13 Chinese New Year's Concert to her memory.
Read the NY Times’ tribute to Shirley’s extraordinary life and accomplishments: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/03/obituaries/shirley-young-dead.html