Overview
The Tianjin Juilliard School will host the Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum from May 26 to 31, 2025—a landmark 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.
The Symposium and Leadership Forum were created to celebrate the orchestral experience, reflecting the diversity of performing styles, and the 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. At the same time, the Leadership 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.
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. 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.
Joseph W. Polisi
Orchestral Symposium
At the heart of this initiative is the NextGen Symphony, a specially convened international ensemble showcasing a new generation of exceptional young musicians from leading conservatories and music schools across Asia, Europe, and North America. The Orchestral Symposium underscores the School’s mission to foster global artistry and collaboration, providing these young musicians a platform to perform, grow, and connect through music. Participating schools send three to five students to play in the Symposium Orchestra and present chamber music performances at various venues in Tianjin. All student participants will perform in the NextGen Symphony and learn from each other.
The NextGen Symphony will be conducted by David Robertson, director of conducting studies, distinguished visiting faculty at The Juilliard School. The orchestra will perform in two culminating concerts—one in Tianjin and the other in Beijing— offering audiences in both cities an opportunity to experience a vibrant and emotionally resonant musical journey. The program opens with The Rhyme of Taigu by Zhou Long, followed by excerpts from Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet, and closes with Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. The May 30 concert at the Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall will be livestreamed, and the May 31 closing concert will be presented in partnership with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).
Leadership Forum
The Leadership Forum is convening 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 where participants explore topics including cultural exchange, international educational initiatives, and artistic challenges. Participants will explore the commonalities and differences in today’s world of music education, sharing perspectives from China, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Singapore.
Click here to view the Leadership Forum agenda.
Performances
Monday, May 26, 19:30
Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium Opening Concert
Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall
Tuesday, May 27, 19:30
Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium Chamber Music Concert Series
Tianjin Conservatory of Music Concert Hall
Tianjin Concert Hall
Tianjin Yao Hua High School Auditorium (not open for observers)
Thursday, May 29, 19:30
Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium Chamber Music Concert Series
Tianjin Juilliard Recital Hall
Friday, May 30, 19:30,
Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium Symphony Concert
Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall
This concert will be livestreamed.
Saturday, May 31, 14:30
Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium Closing Concert
The National Centre for the Performing Arts Concert Hall (not open for observers)
For detailed performance information, please visit the Performance Calendar.
Participating Institutions
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, 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 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, Yale University Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore |
Observer Registration
We warmly welcome colleagues, fellow scholars, and administrators to attend the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium and Leadership Forum as observers. The events will feature thought-provoking keynote speeches, engaging conversations, performances, and inspiring discussions led by distinguished guest speakers and presenters.
To join this landmark event as an observer, please contact us via email at symposium@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn. The registration deadline is May 21.
Please note that observers are responsible for their own travel and accommodation in Tianjin. There is no fee to attend the symposium sessions or concerts.
For a schedule of the sessions open to observation and attendance in ticketed events, please check the Performances section on this page.
All Leadership Forum sessions are open to observers. However, each day must be RSVP’d separately by emailing us. Please note that the sessions on May 28 take place at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre; observing guests are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the Beijing Performing Arts Centre and will be admitted only with advanced reservation by emailing us.
Acknowledgements
The Tianjin Juilliard Symposium and Leadership Forum is generously supported by the Ford Foundation.
The Tianjin Juilliard School gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Centre for the Performing Arts as co-presenter; presenting venues Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Tianjin Concert Hall, and Tianjin Yao Hua High School; Tianjin Municipality; and Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area Administrative Commission.
