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Setting a musical course
2019-09-25 
A quintet made up of the Tianjin Juilliard's faculties (from left) He Wei, Sheila Browne, Zhang Daxun, Zhou Xiangyu and Scott Bell play in a recent event in Tianjin.[Photo provided to China Daily]

After years of preparation, the Tianjin campus of the Juilliard School of performing arts plays host to the inaugural class of its pre-college program, Chen Nan reports.

When a quintet performed Overture on Zhejiang Folk-Tunes in the lobby of a hotel located in Tianjin Binhai New Area on Sept 16, the picturesque small towns of East China's Zhejiang province were revealed to the audience through music.

The quintet was composed of teachers of the Tianjin Juilliard School, the first overseas campus of the New York-based performing arts conservatory, and included violist Sheila Browne, double bass player Zhang Daxun, oboist Scott Bell and violinist He Wei.

The eight-minute piece, Overture on Zhejiang Folk-Tunes, was composed by musician Niccolo Athens from the United States. He has developed an interest in Chinese folk music since he came to Beijing to study at the Central Conservatory of Music. The 31-year-old, who received his bachelor of music in composition from the Juilliard School in New York in 2010, has been living in China since 2014, and now teaches music in Shanghai. He is also faculty member of composition and ear training of the Tianjin Juilliard School.

"Athens was inspired by Zhejiang folk songs and composed the piece with Western composition techniques. It's a great example of how an American musician is influenced by Chinese folk music," says He Wei, Chinese-American violinist, a member of the quintet. He is also the artistic director and dean of the Tianjin Juilliard School. "It also symbolizes the dialogue between both campuses of the Juilliard School."

Conductor Yu Long (right), head of the Tianjin school's advisory council and Joseph W.Polisi, chief China officer and president emeritus of the Juilliard School.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Athens has also rearranged a folk song from Southwest China's Yunnan province, entitled Flowing Creek, to commemorate the breaking of ground for the construction of the Tianjin Juilliard School building in 2017.

After years of preparation, the Tianjin Juilliard School was host to the inaugural class of its pre-college program-modeled on Juilliard New York's century-old pre-college program-on Sept 7. A total of 46 Chinese students from across the country enrolled.

In the fall of 2020, the school's postgraduate studies program will be launched, offering three collaborative majors-orchestral studies, chamber music and collaborative piano. The Tianjin Juilliard's new campus buildings will also officially open at the same time.

"Collaboration is critical for musicians, which enables them to listen to each other and share music," says He, who was born in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, and trained at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music before going to the US to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1991. "I grew up with playing music alone, which is the situation for many Chinese musicians. With our programs, we want to fill in that need to play music together."

Following the quintet's performance, the Tianjin Juilliard School announced the launch of its advisory council, which is composed of musicians from around the globe. Chaired by the Chinese conductor, Yu Long, who is the musical director of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the advisory council includes 16 members, including Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Chinese composer Tan Dun, president of the Philadelphia Orchestra Matias Tarnopolsky and US soprano Renee Fleming.

"They will share their invaluable experience with our students in Tianjin as well as advising on programs and initiatives to advance the school's mission in China, East Asia, and around the globe," says He.

Yoheved Kaplinsky, artistic director of the pre-college program of the school, tutors a student.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The school, which is located along the Haihe River, is about one hour from the capital by high-speed train. All of the courses will be taught in English by resident faculty members from seven countries, including Germany, South Korea, the US and China.

The Tianjin Juilliard School project started in 2015 when China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, visited the Juilliard School in New York while accompanying President Xi Jinping on his weeklong state visit to the US.

Founded in 1905, the school has trained some of the world's best artists, including Van Cliburn, Renee Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma. It has enrolled students from China since the 1920s. Currently, 30 percent of its student body hail from outside of the US with students from China forming the largest single group from overseas.

"It was a historic moment for the Juilliard School and since then (Peng's visit in 2015), we have been working closely with our partners in Tianjin, including the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, to make the project a reality," says Joseph Polisi, the school's sixth, and longest-serving, president. Polisi-a bassoon player-took up his position at Juilliard in 1984.

He adds that, besides music technique training, the school requires students to be involved in community outreach, such as working with hospitals and senior centers." It will be our first campus outside New York, and will offer an authentic Juilliard experience for students.

"Artists have responsibilities beyond the stage. They understand themselves, and humanity, through art," he says. "It's also a core value of the New York school."

Yu says: "I am honored to be a member of the advisory council. The school will provide Chinese musical students with great opportunities and will furnish Chinese symphony orchestras with great and talented musicians.

"In 20 years, we will see how the school influences China's musical education."

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