During the Spring Music Festival 2026 from March 23 to 29, a group of more than 100 artists, including resident faculty, graduate students, and alumni from The Tianjin Juilliard School, traveled to Guangzhou for a week-long residency in collaboration with the Xinghai Concert Hall. From concerts to community engagement, Tianjin Juilliard brought both world-class performances and Juilliard’s music education to the Greater Bay Area. We invited three graduate students, Ziman Xu (MM ‘27, Instrumental and Chamber Music Studies, violin), Zirui Zhang (MM ‘27, Instrumental and Orchestral Studies, flute), and Sizhao Liang (MM ‘27, Instrumental and Orchestral Studies, violin), to share their reflections.
Which piece or specific performance at the Xinghai Concert Hall are you most excited about, and why?
Ziman Xu: As a member of the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, the piece I am most looking forward to is Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. This is my first time performing a Shostakovich symphony live, and as a young orchestra, the energy we bring, under the direction of Ken Lam, may offer a different perspective on the work.
Zirui Zhang: I am especially excited about Richard Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs). With the addition of a soprano and its generally slower pacing, the piece is particularly demanding for the winds, requiring subtle control and putting our technical skills to the test, and we have been rehearsing it extensively. As the principal flutist, my main challenge—and growth—has been learning how to sustain a good tone at very soft dynamics, to blend with the soprano. To me, music is fundamentally about communication through phrasing, ensemble sound, and flow: sensing, following, and listening. I value this kind of collaborative process.
This residency featured not only major concerts but also community outreach activities. What do you hope the local audiences in Guangzhou take away from experiencing Tianjin Juilliard’s approach to music and education?
Ziman Xu: Early in our studies, we took a course called “Collaboration and Interpretation,” where ideas such as community, communication, and connection were central. In many ways, this reflects the core of my education at Tianjin Juilliard: using music as a bridge to engage with the world. Activities such as the flash mob performances and open rehearsals offered meaningful ways to connect with the community, and I believe audiences in Guangzhou can sense the sincerity and commitment behind what we do.
Sizhao Liang: Through a range of activities across the city, we hope to show that classical music can be part of everyday life, and that anyone can access and appreciate its beauty. In Tianjin Juilliard, the idea of becoming a global citizen musician has stayed with me, and this Spring Music Festival is a direct expression of that. We hope that the performances and activities can offer approachable and engaging ways for more people to encounter classical music, and perhaps even develop a lasting interest in it.
What was your first impression of Guangzhou, and was there any audience reaction during the concerts or community events that really stayed with you?
Zirui Zhang: I took part in the outdoor flash mob performance at Man Lap Fong Plaza, and I felt that passersby and audiences were highly engaged. One elderly woman was moving along with the music, clapping and gesturing throughout, and afterward said she wished we could play more. For us as young musicians, these moments are encouraging and help us sustain a sense of freshness and motivation as we grow as artists.
If you had to describe this trip to Guangzhou with one sentence, what would it be and why?
Zirui Zhang: Pride is the word I would use. I graduated from the Xinghai Middle School of Music and the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, yet I had never performed at the Xinghai Concert Hall before, nor had I had many opportunities to play in an orchestra. To return here now, performing as the principal flutist, brings a strong sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Sizhao Liang: I am from Guangzhou, so this residency feels like a kind of homecoming. To perform in a city I know so well is both grounding and meaningful. I hope to have more opportunities in the future to bring the music I care about back to the place I call home.
Photo Credit: The Tianjin Juilliard School, Xinghai Concert Hall