30 conservatories, music schools, and organizations from around the world will gather at The Tianjin Juilliard School for a first-of-its-kind celebration of the orchestral experience
David Robertson, director of Juilliard’s conducting studies, leads the international Symposium Orchestra at the Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall
Leadership Forum brings together representatives from the educational and performance fields to foster community, collaboration, and innovation
TIANJIN, CHINA, February 25, 2025—The Tianjin Juilliard School and The Juilliard School are pleased to announce the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum—a landmark one-week-long gathering uniting young musicians and institutional leaders from thirty major conservatories, music schools, and organizations from around the world to celebrate the orchestral experience and examine the future of professional music education. A first-of-its-kind event, the Symposium will take place at The Tianjin Juilliard School from May 26 – 31, 2025, in Tianjin, China.
“The Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum provide a special opportunity for music conservatory leaders and students from around the world to come together, meaningfully discuss the most important issues of our time related to music performance and education, and make music in a unique setting,” said Joseph W. Polisi, Juilliard’s president emeritus and chief China officer. “Bringing together so many representatives of the global music community is a historic occasion that we hope will have a positive influence on music education in China and beyond.”
Participating Music Conservatories and Schools
Thirty music conservatories, schools, and organizations have accepted invitations to participate in the Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum. They include:
Institutions from Greater China
Central Conservatory of Music; China Conservatory of Music; China Symphony Development Foundation; Harbin Conservatory of Music; The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; League of China Orchestras; Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Shenyang Conservatory of Music; School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen; Sichuan Conservatory of Music; The Tianjin Juilliard School; Tianjin Conservatory of Music; Wuhan Conservatory of Music; Xi'an Conservatory of Music; Xinghai Conservatory of Music; and Zhejiang Conservatory of Music
International Institutions
Aspen Music Festival and School; Colburn School; Curtis Institute of Music; The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory (Toronto); Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; The Juilliard School; Korea National University of Arts; Melbourne Conservatorium of Music; New England Conservatory; Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Royal Academy of Music (London); Shepherd School of Music, Rice University; Yale School of Music; and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore
Damian Woetzel, Juilliard’s president, said, “A landmark initiative, the Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum bring together leaders, students, and artists from around the world to share ideas, inspire collaboration, and advance the future of musical performance and education. This Symposium reflects our enduring commitment to cultivating artistic excellence and dialogue on a global scale, underscoring the vital role of music in building connections and shaping a sustainable, vibrant future for the performing arts.”
In the five years since it opened, Tianjin Juilliard has successfully brought together artists, educators, students, and audiences from around the globe through academic programs, festivals, symposiums, performances, master classes, and more. Last May, it held a three-day Strings Symposium for violin and viola students and teachers to network, learn, promote, and elevate the level of string playing. The upcoming Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum will be a unique experience for participating students and leaders, exemplifying the finest aspects of a global music community.
A Global Effort to Strengthen Music Exchange
The Symposium and Leadership Forum were created to celebrate the orchestral experience, reflecting the diversity of performing styles, intellectual, and artistic perspectives that have influenced and energized the traditions associated with orchestral performance. The Symposium brings together young musicians from Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe to work for one intensive week of workshops, rehearsals, and performances. Participating schools will send three to five students to play in the Symposium Orchestra and also present chamber music performances at various venues in Tianjin. All student participants will perform in the Symposium Orchestra and learn from each other.
The culminating orchestral concert will take place at the Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall in Tianjin on May 30. The Symposium Orchestra will be conducted by David Robertson, director of conducting studies, distinguished visiting faculty at The Juilliard School. The program includes The Rhyme of Taigu by Zhou Long, excerpts from Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet, and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra.
“At Tianjin Juilliard, we are proud to offer a platform where young musicians and leaders of music schools from around the world can come together, collaborate, and exchange ideas,” said Wei He, CEO and artistic director of The Tianjin Juilliard School. “The Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum reflect our core belief that music is about connection between individuals, cultures, and traditions. As the demand for orchestral talent continues to grow across China, we hope that this initiative will help support the development of a vibrant and sustainable musical landscape in the region. At the same time, we aim to foster a deeper sense of artistic collaboration and global understanding of the state of the performing arts and music education within our international community.”
A New Path Forward in Professional Music Education
The Leadership Forum will convene from May 27 to 29, with an overarching agenda based on the question “The Global Music Performance and Education Environment: Must the Paradigm Change?”
This forum brings together leaders of participating institutions to foster an unparalleled exchange of ideas, experiences, strategies, and reflections on a course for the future in the world of professional music education. It will take the form of keynote addresses, roundtable discussions, and breakout sessions for participants to explore topics including cultural exchange, international educational initiatives, and artistic challenges. Participants will discuss the commonalities and differences across the field of music education, sharing perspectives from China, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Singapore.
The complete schedule of events and performances will be available on the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum webpage at tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn/symposium. Programs and dates subject to change.