CHINA TRIP FEATURES HISTORIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE, COLLABORATIONS, NEW WORKS BY LEGENDARY U-M COMPOSERS
At the onset of the 21st century, it’s clear that the economic and cultural relationship between the United States and China is having a profound impact the course of history.
You can follow and report on a historic trip of University of Michigan students and faculty to China, which begins in early May. Key players, performers, administrators and composers are available for INTERVIEWS. And, in a few weeks, you can begin tracking the historic trip by visiting the U-M arts-and-culture news website, www.montage.umich.edu.
In a few months, the University of Michigan will reach out to China in a cultural exchange that offers a 21st-century model of how a major U.S. university is working to connect American and Chinese governments and peoples. The upcoming trip is one of many that U-M officials have made to China. In 2005, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman led a delegation, and established a vital cultural connection that has enhanced communications with the Chinese, and deepened the university’s commitment to its Chinese cultural studies programs.
In May, 80 U-M students from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance will spend three weeks in Shanghai, Xi’an, Shenyang, Bejing and Tianjin before performing in a grand finale concert on May 29 at the Walt Disney concert Hall in Los Angeles.
U-M’s University Symphony Band tour includes performances at conservatories and concert halls along the way. Students will work with their Chinese peers, exchanging ideas through the medium of music. University Symphony Band is under the direction of Michael Haithcock.
In addition, U-M’s China tour showcases works by faculty composers, including works by William Bolcom, Michael Daugherty, Kristin Kuster and Bright Sheng.
In the early 1960s, the U-M symphony band toured the Soviet Union, becoming only the second symphony after the New York Philharmonic allowed behind the Iron Curtain. The upcoming to
For details of the tour, please visit the links below:
http://www.montage.umich.edu/2010/11/a-journey-east/
http://www.montage.umich.edu/2011/01/um-student-musicians-tapped-for-historic-performances/
http://www.montage.umich.edu/2011/01/homecoming-for-u-m-alum/
http://www.montage.umich.edu/2011/01/world-premieres-by-top-american-composers/
For more information, please contact:
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE & DANCE
Rachel Francesco, 734-764-0594, rachaf@umich.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NEWS SERVICE
Frank Provenzano, 734-647-4411, fproven@umich.edu
