NYO-China

2020 Sinfonietta Series

Celebrating the Classics

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, NYO-China will be upsizing its ordinarily anticipated chamber series into a sinfonietta comprising 47 exceptionally talented musicians. With an ensemble of this size, students will be able to perform masterworks of the Late Classical as their composers intended. Led by conductor Ludovic Morlot and featuring violinist Simone Porter, students will perform for fans throughout mainland China before making their way to Moscow for their eagerly awaited Eastern European debut.

Ludovic Morlot

CONDUCTOR

Ludovic Morlot is a preeminent name among the world’s next generation of esteemed conductors, having served as the principal conductor of the Seattle Symphony from 2011 to 2019, a subscription conductor for the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and a guest conductor for the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Berliner Philharmoniker, and Tokyo Philharmonic orchestras. During his tenure at Seattle, his innovative performances have earned the orchestra five GRAMMY Awards. Morlot also has a strong commitment to working with young musicians and has conducted student orchestras at Yale University, the Royal Academy of Music at London, and the Aspen Festival.

Simone Porter

SOLOIST

With her impassioned energy, interpretive integrity, and vibrant communication, Simone Porter is quickly emerging as one of the most brilliant violinists working today. Born in 1996, Porter made her professional solo debut with the Seattle Symphony at age 10, followed by her international solo debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London at age 13. Since then, she has performed with venerated orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, collaborating with esteemed conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She has also performed as a guest artist at the Aspen Music Festival and with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. In March 2015, Porter was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Specific concert venues to be announced soon but will include multiple destinations in mainland China and a performance in Moscow, Russia.

Concert Program

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Coriolan Overture, Op. 62

FELIX MENDELSSOHN

Violin Concerto in E minor

CAROLINE
SHAW

Entr'acte

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Symphony No. 7 in A major

Residency

In preparation for their concerts throughout China and in Moscow, the sinfonietta will rehearse from July 11 to July 25 at Zhejiang Conservatory in Hangzhou – the first week dedicated to sectional rehearsals, master classes, workshops, and one-on-one rehearsals with our venerated faculty, and the second week devoted to full orchestral rehearsals with Maestro Ludovic Morlot. All throughout, students will also have an opportunity to work with similarly talented peers to present exceptional realizations of some of their favorite works in chamber music.

Zhejiang Conservatory

Zhejiang Conservatory is frequently referred to as the most expansive and well-equipped music school operating in China today. With 9 concert halls, 102 rehearsal chambers, 842 practice rooms, and 6 recording studios, Zhejiang Conservatory is unrivaled in terms of facilities. Situated on a pristine 100-acre campus in southwest Hangzhou, Zhejiang Conservatory is also home to numerous other accommodations that will serve our students, including hotel lodging, buffet-style meals, and state-of-the-art athletic facilities.

Faculty

In preparation for their concerts throughout China and in Moscow, the sinfonietta will rehearse from July 11 to July 25 at a soon-to-be-announced conservatory in China – the first week dedicated to sectional rehearsals, master classes, workshops, and one-on-one rehearsals with our venerated faculty, and the second week devoted to full orchestral rehearsals with Maestro Ludovic Morlot. All throughout, students will also have an opportunity to work with similarly talented peers to present exceptional realizations of some of their favorite works in chamber music.

Stilian Kirov

Resident Conductor

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra

Music Director

Frank Huang

Violin I

New York Philharmonic

Concertmaster

Qing Li

Violin II

Baltimore Symphony

Principal Second Violin

Qiang Tu

Cello and Double Bass

New York Philharmonic

Yao Guang Zhai

Clarinet

Baltimore Symphony

Principal Clarinet

Fei Xie

Oboe and Bassoon

Minnesota Orchestra

Principal Bassoon

Jenna Breen

French Horn and Trumpet

Seattle Symphony

Visiting Faculty

In addition to rehearsing with their designated faculty, students performing Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, and Trumpet will partake in private lessons with the following distinguished musicians from premier music schools and orchestras throughout China.

Daxun Zhang

Double Bass

Tianjin Juilliard

Resident Faculty

Yong Ma

Flute

Shanghai Conservatory of Music

Professor of Flute

Minghong Sun

Oboe

Shanghai Conservatory of Music

Professor of Oboe

Jinyuan Wang

Trumpet

Suzhou Symphony Orchestra

Auditions

Auditions will be virtual, with all candidates submitting their application materials through the online portal Acceptd. Specific audition requirements vary by instrument, but all applicants must provide 1) a résumé, 2) a one- to two-minute video essay explaining why they would like to be in the orchestra, and 3) videos of various requested performances. These recordings entail one to two solo pieces (either a piece of your choice, or of several given options), and three to five mandated excerpts. Optional excerpts may also be found for certain auxiliary instruments.

All Chinese citizens (including those from Hong Kong or Macau, and regardless of whether or not they currently live abroad) who will be between the ages of 14 and 21 for the entire duration of the 2020 season (from July 10 to August 8) will be eligible to apply. This includes anyone born between August 8, 1998 and July 10, 2006. The application portal will open on December 23, 2019 and close on February 29, 2020 at 23:59 CST (China Standard Time). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so students are encouraged to apply early.

Every applicant will receive written feedback from our judges – professional musicians with credentials from top conservatories in the United States or Europe – regardless of whether they are eventually selected as a member of the ensemble.