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 will bring 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
The Symposium brings together young musicians from Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe to work together for one intensive week of workshops, rehearsals, and performances. Participating schools will 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 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 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.
Leadership Forum
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 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.
Leadership Forum Agenda
Tuesday, May 27 at The Tianjin Juilliard School
Opening Remarks
Joseph W. Polisi, President Emeritus and Chief China Officer, The Juilliard School
Wei He, CEO and Artistic Director, The Tianjin Juilliard School
Keynote I: Music and the Search for Meaning
Speaker: Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director, Carnegie Hall
Wednesday, May 28 at Beijing Centre for the Performing Arts
Keynote II: Educating the 21st Century Musician
Speaker: Andrea Kalyn, President, the New England Conservatory of Music
Lecture: AI in a Musician’s Life Today
Speaker: David Ludwig, Dean of Music, The Juilliard School
Thursday, May 29 at The Tianjin Juilliard School
Keynote III: Commonalities and Differences in Today’s World of Music Education
Speaker: Robert Blocker, William Edward Gilbert Professor of Piano; Former Dean, The Yale University School of Music
Discussion: Perspectives on Music Education and Performance in China Today
A line-up of speakers from Chinese organizations and institutions will participate in this session. Please check back for updates.
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
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
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
For detailed performance information, please visit the Performance Calendar.
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.
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.
