A concert by the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio from the US was given at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 19. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
A world renowned musician leading a talented young orchestra from the U.S has just come to Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts, nicknamed the Egg, on Saturday to kick off a tour of musical performances in China's four major cities this summer.
This is the first visit of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) to China, led by their distinguished conductor Troy Peters.
The one and a half hour concert consists of 6 pieces of world famous music, including the "French Military March" from Saint-Saens, L'Arlesenne Suite from Bizet, as well as Selections From Romeo and Juliet by Russian composer Prokofiev. The most familiar one to average Chinese audiences may be the Spring Festival Overture by Chinese composer Li Huanzhi. The whole performance won thunderous applause from audiences, and after all the six pieces were given the conductor returned to the stage several times as a result of audience requests.
Different from other professional orchestras, all members of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio are teenagers in high school between the ages of 12 and 19 who have a lust for music and want to devote themselves to studying music before going to specialized colleges. Originally created as part of the San Antonio Independent School District in 1949, YOSA was incorporated in 1977 as in independent nonprofit organization.
Following their performance, members of YOSA had an intimate party with some Chinese young musical talents, both groups showing their stunning skills with different instruments.
This is YOSA's eighth international tour, the first of which was in 1985 in Austria and Hungary. This year's tour will take the young members to China's four cities, respectively Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong.
The conductor of the Orchestra, renowned musician Troy Peters, gave an exclusive interview to a CRI reporter after the concert on Saturday, June 19, 2010. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Dialogue with the musician
As a famous musician with many awards in the field, Troy Peters says he feels honored and happy to be the musical director of YOSA. Our reporter found an opportunity to sit with Mr. Peters and had a pleasant interview with him after watching the concert from his orchestra.
Reporter: I noticed that you are wearing a traditional Chinese dress on stage today. Did you wear it especially for today's performance?
Troy Peters: Actually I wear it at home too. I like the style and bought several pieces in Beijing in 2006. I feel it's more comfortable than a tuxedo and it is very formal too.
Reporter: Do you have any suggestions to Chinese young people who are eager to learn music?
Troy Peters: Well, I think the most important thing in pursuing music is to remember to love it, to have fun in it and to keep a smile, since the practice often requires long-time persistent hard work. The greatest musicians in the world tend to be those who truly love music and have fun playing music.
Reporter: You are a great musician, a still active composer and a versatile instrumentalist, but for the young talents in YOSA, you are a good educator. So in your eyes, do you see any difference between the American way of training musicians and the Chinese way of training musicians?
Troy Peters: I went to school in America with many Chinese musicians including the pianist Lang Lang. I found that Chinese musicians tend to achieve a very high level of physical control at a younger age, which is very important for musicians. But in America, and in Europe too, younger musician develop that later. They sometimes spend more time reading poetries, studying history, which are also very important for musicians. Americans are a little sloppy, and they develop master grade when they get older. But both are good. And if in the end, both elements get together, it works. That's why I said earlier it is very important to remember to have fun in the process, because the art form is not only about playing fast and displaying. So both elements have to be there.
Reporter: This is YOSA's eighth international tour, and will it come to China again in near future?
Troy Peters: YOSA will tour three years from now, but we have not yet selected our destinations. We would like to take our students to more different countries and cultures, so three years later probably will be somewhere else. But I will come back to China definitely, I love this country. Thank you!
A young Chinese girl performed the lute at the Sino Musical Party attended by members of the Orchestras of San Antonio and Chinese young musical talents after the concert. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
