Beethoven in China Webinar Series with China Institute

Beethoven in China Pt 1.jpg

On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, the US-China Music Institute and China Institute in Manhattan presented Part One of our two part webinar series, Beethoven in China. Our very own director, Jindong Cai, and his co-author and partner Sheila Melvin, discussed Beethoven’s influence and importance in modern Chinese culture. China Institute’s Dinda Elliott moderates their wide-ranging conversation, touching on some of the most important figures in Chinese classical music and tracing various milestones in the development of modern China through the lens of music.

If you missed this truly inspiring evening, you can watch the entire event here:

Be sure not to miss Part Two on Tuesday, July 28 at 7pm!

Beethoven in China Part Two features a film preview and discussion of the upcoming documentary “Beethoven in Beijing,” detailing the Philadelphia Orchestra’s engagement with China from their historic 1973 tour through to today. With Jindong Cai, film producer Jennifer Lin, and former ambassador to China Nicholas Platt. Register for free HERE

New Students Welcome Video with Tan Dun and Jindong Cai

The US-China Music Institute welcomes 6 new Chinese instrument majors to the Bard Conservatory of Music in the Fall of 2020. The class of 2025 joins 7 returning students to nearly double the Chinese instrument cohort at the Conservatory, an exciting milestone and a testament to Bard’s commitment to supporting cultural exchange between the US and China.

In tribute to this talented group of young musicians, the US-China Music Institute presents a welcome video featuring messages from US-China Music Institute Director Jindong Cai and Dean of the Bard Conservatory Tan Dun, along with greetings and a brief performance from each of our new students. Please take a few moments to enjoy their enthusiasm and artistry:

During this unusual and challenging year for colleges across the country and around the world, we are supporting our Chinese students at the Bard Conservatory by expanding our existing innovative online teaching options so that they will be able to remain fully enrolled and engaged with their music making and academic studies. Plans are underway to keep the full cohort of new and returning students together in China until the time when they can enter the United States to attend classes in person on the Bard College campus.

We can’t wait to meet them in person and hope that it will be soon!

Bard College President Offered Remarks on Student Benefit Concert to Support Fight Against the Coronavirus

Messages of Solidarity and Anti-Discrimination Counter Coronavirus Stereotypes

Bard College President Leon Botstein addresses the audience. Photo by Rock Huang

Bard College President Leon Botstein addresses the audience. Photo by Rock Huang

On Saturday, February 22, Bard College President Leon Botstein attended a concert in Olin Hall to benefit the fight against Coronavirus and offered opening remarks. The concert aimed to raise funds for China’s fight against the Coronavirus and increase awareness about the impacts of the outbreak.

Caroline He, photo by Rock Huang

Caroline He, photo by Rock Huang

One of the student organizers, Caroline (Ziyue) He, an anthropology major at Bard, described the outbreak in China and the danger to health care workers and the population in general. She went on to describe discrimination faced by Asians and Asian Americans in the wake of the epidemic. “It’s not about nationality; it’s not about skin color; it’s not about gender. What matters is that we care, and we stand together. We support each other."

President Botstein conveyed Bard College’s full support for its students and advocated for solidarity and understanding. "A virus is a virus. It does not discriminate among humans, and neither should we," said President Botstein. "Coronavirus has had devastating impacts in China. This concert is an important opportunity to be in solidarity with our Chinese students and colleagues."

Student volunteers organized the free benefit concert at Bard with support from the Bard Chinese Student Organization, the Center for Civic Engagement, the Bard College Conservatory of Music, and the US-China Music Institute. Chinese instrumental music students, together with other students from the Conservatory of Music, performed Chinese songs such as “The Dance of the Yao People,” "The Silk Road Camel," and "Dun Huang.” The concert repertoire was arranged and directed by Conservatory student Zongheng Zhang, formerly of the Hubei Conservatory of Music in China.

From left to right: Conservatory students Arnav Shirodkar (percussion), Yuling Nan (ruan), and Sibei Wang (guzheng) perform "The Silk Road Camel" (丝路驼铃) by Yong Ning. Photos by Sonita Alizada

From left to right: Conservatory students Arnav Shirodkar (percussion), Yuling Nan (ruan), and Sibei Wang (guzheng) perform "The Silk Road Camel" (丝路驼铃) by Yong Ning. Photos by Sonita Alizada

The Director of the US-China Music Institute, Jindong Cai, commented, "Politics so often divides us, but music creates connections. I'm so proud of the students of the Bard College Conservatory and the US-China Music Institute for putting together this event to show their unity and support." 

During the concert, the hosts encouraged attendees to give online or to place donations in decorated boxes around the hall. The benefit concert is part of an ongoing fundraising effort by students around the COVID-19 outbreak. Ahead of the concert, Bard student leaders collaborated with students from Vassar College, Colby College, and Oberlin College, with the help of the Cleveland Clinic and John Hopkins University Alumni, to raise more than $20,000. These funds purchase sanitary products and food for hospitals in the most affected regions.

The fundraising effort is still active online, please visit the donation website https://www.gofundme.com/f/coronavirus-relief-benefit-concert-at-bard-college

Bard College student organizers of the Coronavirus Benefit Concert. Photo by Rock Huang

Bard College student organizers of the Coronavirus Benefit Concert. Photo by Rock Huang

 

The Sound of Spring 2020

Look back at the US-China Music Institute’s first annual Chinese New Year Concert —
The Sound of Spring

On January 25 at Bard’s Fisher Center and January 26 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, the US-China Music Institute welcomed masters of Chinese instruments from the Central Conservatory of Music in China to perform our first Chinese New Year Concert, The Sound of Spring, with The Orchestra Now. US-China Music Institute Director Jindong Cai conducted the first half of the program and Chen Bing from the Central Conservatory conducted the second half. View the program book here.

What the press is saying:

(Xinhua/Wang Ying)

(Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Before Sunday’s concert we presented a Chinese instrument demonstration, in partnership with China Institute in Manhattan. Students of the US-China Music Institute performed and gave hands-on demonstrations on erhu, ruan, pipa and guzheng to an enthusiastic all-ages crowd.

Men of Iron and the Golden Spike - Stanford Live

Men of Iron and the Golden Spike - Stanford Live

US-China Music Institute Director Jindong Cai describes the conception and creation of a major new work for orchestra and chorus, Men of iron and the Golden Spike by Zhou Long, celebrating the Chinese railroad workers of the American West. Part of the 2nd annual China Now Music Festival, the newly commissioned work will be performed at Carnegie Hall on October 1 and Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall on October 6, 2019.

Tradition and Discovery -- the 2nd Annual Conference of the US-China Institute

Tradition and Discovery -- the 2nd Annual Conference of the US-China Institute

On March 11-12, 2019, the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music convened a group of scholars, music educators and performers for our 2nd annual conference, Tradition and Discovery: Teaching Chinese Music in the West. With participants from Europe, North America, and Asia, the conference aimed to present diverse perspectives and experiences and to highlight successes and challenges within the field of Chinese music education outside of China.