Recent & Past Programs

2019   

WEllingting Koo the Diplomat: A Life in Song

Partner: US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, Columbia University 
On September 30, 2019 at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, the concert “Wellington Koo the Diplomat: a Life in Song” celebrates Wellington Koo’s diplomatic contributions and China’s relationship with America through history.  This multi-media presentation was directed by film director Sherwood Hu consists of narration using Koo’s own words from his autobiography by actor Luoyong Wang, Broadway’s original lead in Miss Saigon. Live performances accompanying the video are by Metropolitan Opera soprano Ying Huang and bass-baritone Shenyang, international violinist Dan Zhu, wunderkind pianist Niu Niu, Pingtan performers Haihua Huang and Jinghui Wu, and a world premiere chamber work by Peng Peng Gong.  This event also kicked off the newly designated Chinese American Heritage Week, recently established by resolution from the New York State Senate. 

2018

WEllingting Koo Memorial Concert & Jiadong Wellington Koo Museum expansion 

Partner: Shanghai Jiading Museum
On December 8, USCCI presented a multi-media concert at the Studio Theatre of the Poly Grand Theatre to celebrate the opening of the expanded Wellington Koo Museum in Jiading, Shanghai. Featuring renowned soprano Ying Huang, baritone Yunpeng Wang, violinist Mengla Huang, pianist Niu Niu Zhang, Tianjing Youyun Children's Chorus, the concert highlighted Wellington Koo's life with images and music of his time. 

Happy Chinese New Year, Fantastic Art China New York Event Series - Students Day

Partner: Central Academy of Fine Arts, Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic, National Dance Institute, Lang Lang International Music Foundation 
Organized by Committee of 100 (C100) and US-China Cultural Institute, Cultural Associate of the Committee of 100 (USCCI), the Students Day on February 16 was part of the week-long celebrations under the Fantastic Art China/Huan Le Chun Jie program, including Fireworks Spectacular on the Hudson, Empire State Building Light Show, Art exhibition by Central Academy of the Arts (CAFA) at Metropolitan Pavilion and New York School of Interior Design.
 
Taking place at the lobby of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, the Students Day provided a Chinese cultural experience through Art, Music & Dance celebrating the one million New York City public school children on holiday. 

A New York version of Qing Ming Shang He Tu (Along the River During the Qingming Festival) was created with CAFA’s artwork of iconic landmarks throughout 5 boroughs and students’ drawings of life in New York. CAFA also displayed 150 award-winning children’s artworks from a national contest in China. National Dance Institute and the Dancing into the Future program from China carried out the Year of Dog Dance and a mass dance with the audience. New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer Program and Lang Lang International Music Foundation’s Young Scholars both introduced to the audience several talented young musicians from both China and the United States and demonstrated the power of music across the borders. One of the audience’s favorites was sugar painting art by two sugar artists from Sichuan.
 
The Governor, Mayor & Manhattan Borough President all sent greetings. The 43-foot scroll will be displayed in China & New York in the future. Over 1,600 parents and children attended the event. 80% of the audience was non-Chinese. 

2017

First Public Release of V.K. Wellington Koo's Archive of Personal Papers:
 Exhibition and Symposium

The joint digitization project of V.K. Wellington Koo Archive was presented for the first time an exhibition & symposium by Institute of Modern History of Chinese Academy of Social Science, Columbia University Libraries.  The special exhibition, titled "Wellington Koo and Anti-Japanese War/Second Sino-Japanese War: Commemoration the 80th Anniversary for the Outbreak of the War" shared selected digital images of Koo's archive of personal papers.  This is the first time materials from the 300 boxes of papers and documents from Wellington Koo's personal archives covering his years as China's diplomat have been seen publicly.  Distinguished guests from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, P.R. China, Institute of Modern History of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Committee of 100, as well as Koo's family representatives and renowned scholars attended.
The catalogue of digitized archive of Dr Koo's personal papers will be available for searching on the official website of Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Science after November 1, 2017.  Please visit http://jds.cssn.cn/english/for further information. 

Renée Fleming Helps Chinese Young Singers Appear on International Stage

Partner: Shanghai Conservatory of Music
​On July 28th, 2017, world reknowned soprano Renée Fleming gave a master class at the Academic Hall of Shanghai Conservatory of Music.  This program was hosted by Shanghai Conservatory of Music and facilitated and co-hosted by US-China Cultural Institute, Cultural Associate of the Committee of 100.  Ms. Fleming gave guidance to 4 students from Voice and Opera Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music.  Previously, Ms. Fleming has lectured and gave master classes at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2007.  In 2013, she successfully held a concert with master class students and was named an Honorary Professor at this school. 

DIF Dance Group Visit to the US (2017/4/15-24)

Facilitated by USCCI, DIF recently visited the US Phillips Academy Andover to teach their students Chinese dance. DIF joined Phillips Academy students to teach students from Lawrence, MA Boys and Girls Club as part of Phillips Academy’s nonsibi social service philanthropic program.

2016

Kunqu “Peony Pavilion” at the Interlochen

On May 10, 2016, Zhang Jun and Zhang Jun Kunqu Opera Art Center’s artists from Shanghai to performed Kunqu Opera “Peony Pavilion” at Interlochen Center for the Arts. The artists did a lecture & demo for Interlochen music students at the Dendrinos Chapel in the afternoon.  Then they did a performance for the audience of students in the evening.  ​

Happy Chinese New Year, Fantastic Art China New York Event Series 

Partner:  National Dance Institute, The Nature Conservancy, New York Philharmonic, Committee of 100, Columbia Teachers College, New York School of Interior Design, China Institute, Museum of Chinese in America, New York Foundation for the Arts, and New Gallery of Art
The New York City Lunar New Year annual event series is dedicated to the themes of art, education, and nature, through partnerships with leading New York institutions as it brings the celebration to iconic New York City locations. The 2016 Year of the Monkey celebration events included a five-day art exhibition at Javits Center, fireworks over the Hudson, Empire State Building lighting, and the New York Philharmonic 5th Annual Chinese New Year Concert and Gala.

2015

Phillips Academy, Andover

Partners: Phillips Academy Andover and Shanghai Datong High School

2014

The Third Annual Conference of Taihu World Cultural Forum

On June 18, 2014, Ms. Shirley Young, Chair of U.S.-China Cultural Institute (USCCI) was invited to deliver a speech in the 3rd Taihu Cultural Forum. Her topic was “Cultural Outreach: from China to the United States”. The presentation provided recent case histories of cultural outreach between China (Shanghai) and the US, with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Philharmonic, National Dance Institute, including interviews with the leaders of these organizations, demonstrating the importance of: partnership to achieve the right audience, and ensure mutual benefit and long term impact.

2013

Light of China: Persons of the Year in Spreading Chinese Culture Award Ceremony 

On the ceremony of 2013 Light of China held in Beijing on Dec. 20th, Shirley Young, the chairman of US-China Culture Institute, was awarded Figures Spreading Chinese Culture of the Year together with other 10 awardees. The ceremony of Chinese Light is held once a year, aiming to award Chinese overseas and from Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan as well as mainlan, that did great contributions on spreading Chinese culture to the world.

Women's Leadership: Making a Difference in the World

Partners: Peking University and Wellesley College
On June 15, 2013, the conference of “Women’s Leadership: Making a Difference in the World” co-presented by Peking University and Wellesley College was held in Peking University. More than 300 high-profile women leaders in government, business, media and academic institutions from China and US attended this conference and made discussion around how to improve the development of global women leaders and cultivate women leaders under the global economy.

​Besides, on June 14, Peking University President Wang Enge and Wellesley President H. Kim Bottomly signed a Memorandum of Understanding and commit to working in partnership to educate the next generation of women leaders. After the academic program, the Wellesley College/Peking University Partnership will continue to grow with faculty and student exchanges, joint research ventures, virtual collaborations, and more.

Master Artist Master Teacher

Partner: Shanghai Conservatory of Music
In May 2013, US China Cultural Institute assisted in the presentation of world renowned opera star, Ms. Renée Fleming during her Asia tour in China, accompanied by pianist Hartmut H ll. Ms. Fleming’s education concert performance demonstration and Master class at the He Luting Concert Hall at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music was greeted with standing ovations and a sold out house. 

​The diverse program included Handel oratorio arias, songs by Debussy, Strauss, and Canteloube, American musical theater classics, and Italian opera arias. As one of the series performances during the 30th Shanghai International Music Festival, this program helped to re-introduce Renee’s lyric style to many new audiences and existing fans in China, helping to further promote US-China cultural exchange. At the end of her visit, Renee was made an honorary professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

The Symposium for the New Edition of the 13-volume Wellington Koo Memoirs

Partner: ​Institute of Modern History
The symposium for the new edition of the 13-volume Wellington Koo Memoirs was held in Beijing on August 20th, 2013. This was the first time that the 13-volume memoirs were published as a whole set. 

The Institute of Modern History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Zhonghua Book Company hosted the symposium. It was attended by staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the National Library, as well as scholars studying modern history. Shirley Young, the President of U.S.-China Cultural Institute and the stepdaughter of Wellington Koo, was also in attendance. 

​It was also announced that Mr. Koo’s archive in Columbia University would be digitized and made available to scholars, with the collaboration of Columbia University, the Institute of Modern History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Shanghai Library. 

2012

Peony Pavilion Kunqu Opera at Metropolitan Museum of Arts

 Partner: ​Metropolitan Museum of Art
From Nov 29 to Dec 2, 2012, Shanghai Zhang Jun Kunqu Art Center from China was presented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Astor Court Garden, in Tan Dun’s production of Kunqu Opera Peony Pavilion. A gala reception was held in the Temple of Dendur. This was co-presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and US-China Cultural Institute.
​
Except the 6 performances in the Astor Court, the performance was also relayed in high-definition video to the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium. And the video is now available for streaming on the Met’s Web site. In addition, a lecture given by Tan Dun and Maxwell K. Hearn, curator of Asian Art was offered to audiencesin the auditorium.

2010

​“Chinese in America – We Are Family” at Shanghai 2010 World Expo

Partner: 2010 Shanghai World Expo USA Pavilion
USCCI served a major implementation role for the Committee 100's strategic partnership with the USA Pavilion- Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Video Wall Exhibit "The Chinese in America- We are Family." Using all forms of media and with the assistance of over 50 community groups, the Committee of 100 rallied vast numbers of Americans of Chinese descent in America to submit their photos to a video wall to reflect their pride in their heritage and in America. Over 10,000 people uploaded their photos including many distinguished Chinese Americans, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Chen, I.M Pei and many others of Chinese descent who have made important contributions to America. 

The exhibition attracted over 7 million visitors to the U.S. Pavilion in 2010 Shanghai Expo, including a specialist Hillary Clinton being heavily covered by international media. 

2009

From China to the World, Shenyang and Friends

Partner: Metropolitan Opera, the Juilliard School, Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
For this 1 week Program the US-China Cultural Institute partnered with the Metropolitan Opera, the Juilliard School, Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music . 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World, Shenyang, performed with the heads of the Metropolitan Opera and Juilliard Young Artists Development Programs, Ken Noda and Brian Zeger, with his 2 young colleagues from the Programs, Erin Morley and Julie Boulianne. Brian Zeger and Ken Noda also gave master classes for 20 of China’s most promising young singers followed by a free public concert.

2008

​“Man and Nature" Program

Partner: The Nature Conservancy
On June 17th, the US-China Cultural Institute presented Man And Nature, a multi-media event created for The Fourth US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, co-chaired by China’s Vice Premier, Wang Qishan, and US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson. Performers were accompanied by a live video of award-winning photographs of China’s 2,400 nature reserves and photos from America’s reserves, all provided by The Nature Conservancy.
​

​China Earthquake Relief Efforts

On June 16th, the US-China Cultural Institute arranged and donated a musical tribute to a reception co-hosted by the Committee of 100 and the Institute, at the Library of Congress in Washington for the Committee of 100 Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund. A world-premiere performance of "Elegy: How Could Sorrow Say It All" written by composer Huang Ruo and commissioned by the Institute, was performed by the Attacca String Quartet and Sichuan-born soprano Fang Tao Jiang. Nine-year old pianist Marc Yu spoke about his trip to China following the earthquake, then performed in memory of the children who perished.

​“Natural China" Program

Partner: The Nature Conservancy, National Centre for Performing Arts and Shanghai Oriental Art Center
The US-China Cultural Institute, together with The Nature Conservancy and 2 Chinese NGOs, launched "Natural China", a multi-faceted program developed with environmental NGOs to inform people about China's natural assets, its nature reserves and efforts to protect them. The concerts, co-presented with Beijing's National Centre for Performing Arts and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, were multi-media concerts of Haydn's "The Seasons". Performers Maestro John Nelson and Metropolitan Opera singers Ying Huang, Shen Yang and Marc Heller were accompanied by award-winning photographs taken of China's nature reserves from a photo competition sponsored by the Beijing Olympic Committee and The Nature Conservancy.

​Music for the Future

Partner: New York Philharmonic and Shanghai Grand Theater
The US-China Cultural Institute and the Shanghai Grand Theater co-organized a community concert with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and 256 teenagers from 6 schools, conducted by Music Director, Lorin Maazel. This free educational community event was part of a commitment to education and community development by a major performing arts center in China. The event received extensive coverage in the New York Times and the Chinese press and was the subject of 2 television documentaries aired in China.

2007

​“The First Emperor" Gala Dinner & Met Museum Show

Partner: Asian Performing Arts
Gala dinner hosted together with the Asian Performing Arts of Colorado to celebrate "The First Emperor" performing in New York -- Honoring Placido Domingo and the Chinese artists Tan Dun, Hao Jiang Tian, Doudou Huang, Wu Hsing-kuo, Ning Liang, etc.

2006

​Singing for the Future II

Partner: Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Oriental Art Center and Shanghai Grand Theater
Building on the success of Singing for the Future I, this exchange program continued to increase understanding of Western choral music and sacred music in the Baroque tradition with performance of Handel's "Messiah" by John Nelson and international soloists. It also served to promote the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai with a Community Sing for 1650 voices accompanying a dance by Special Olympics athletes and Children's Palace dancers.

2005

​Singing for the Future

Partner: Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Oriental Art Center and Shanghai Grand Theater
A two-week choral exchange program designed to expand knowledge of Western sacred music, a foundation of Western music but little heard in China for many years. Led by Maestro John Nelson, the program included the Shanghai premiere of Mendelssohn's " Elijah ", a symposium at the Shanghai Conservatory, a Community Sing for 1000 amateurs and overseas fellowships for 3 young conductors from the Shanghai conservatory.

​“The Festival of China” Kennedy Center, Washington DC, USA

Partner: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Advisor to month-long Festival of China, the largest festival of Chinese artists in the U.S. at Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.

​Kun Opera Performance in Malaysia

​Partner: IMG
"Discovering the secrets of Chinese opera" with Luoyong Wang and Kun and Jin opera stars in Petronas Theatre, Kuala Lunmpur Malaysia presented with IMG and produced by the US-China Cultural Institute.

2004

​​​Smithsonian Museum Screening of “Perlman in Shanghai”

In conjunction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, PBS stations aired Allan Miller's documentary, Perlman in Shanghai, about the 2002  US-China Cultural Institute-sponsored visit by violinist Itzhak Perlman to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and the film was screened at the Smithsonian's Sackler Museum in Washington, D.C. for members of Congress and Washington'’s Asian American leaders.

​​“Perlman in Shanghai”
​at Symphony Space in New York ​​​

The 2002  US-China Cultural Institute program was featured once again in a screening of Allan Miller's documentary film, and Itzhak Perlman himself gave a live concert with some of the young American participants in the Shanghai events.

Tan Dun's Water Music
​at the American Museum of Natural History

Partner: The Nature Conservancy
Tan Dun's Water Music was performed by the Talujon Percussion Ensemble on water instruments for the vivid choreography of Chinese dancer Doudou Huang in a benefit concert for The Nature Conservancy and the  US-China Cultural Institute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

2003

​Shanghai International Artists Festival

Shanghai International Artists Festival "Inspired by China Roots"
A week-long festival of performances of music, dance and lectures with international artists of Chinese heritage. Participants included Tan Dun, Lang Lang, Tan Yuanyuan, Huang Doudou and Hao Jiang Tian and The Nature Conservancy featuring China premieres and newly commissioned works "inspired by China roots.

​New York City’s Joyce Theater Features Doudou Huang as guest artist

The Martha Graham-inspired Buglisi/Foreman Dance company presented  US-China Cultural Institute artist Doudou Huang in its spring season at the Joyce Theater, premiering Sacred Currents through Bamboo, created for Huang by Jacqulyn Buglisi with a set designed by Chinese artist Xu Bing and music from Tan Dun's score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

2002

​Perlman Music Master Class

A month-long exchange program led by Itzhak Perlman and 50 teachers and students from the Perlman Music Program and 35 nationally selected young Chinese musicians focusing on the value of ensemble playing in music and life.City-wide events included Master Classes, a Symposium, Concerts and a Community Event for 1000 young musicians aged 4 -20. A documentary "Perlman in hanghai" by Oscar winning director Allan Miller ran on PBS in the U.S. 

​C.Y. Liao performing in Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York

With the  US-China Cultural Institute's support, Shanghai baritone C.Y. Liao gave two performances in Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York, presenting the prestigious 2002 Vidda Award Recital and winning high critical praise and a huge ovation for his role in the difficult Donizetti opera, Marino Faliero.

2001

​Opera “Don Carlos” Premiere

China Premiere of "Don Carlos" opera -- the first semi-staged opera in Shanghai – with international artists Hao Jiang Tian, Mariana Zvetkova, Marianne Cornetti, Robert Gary Simpson and John Cheek under Maestro John Nelson at Shanghai Grand Theatre.

​Huang Doudou with Shanghai Song & Dance Ensemble to Vail International Dance Festival

With the assistance of the  US-China Cultural Institute, the Shanghai Dance Ensemble directed by Doudou Huang, was invited to perform at the Vail International Dance Festival, where they were declared the highlight of the season by Dance Spirit magazine, and Huang was described as "a national sensation... reinventing mainland dance" by Time Magazine.

​“Jews in Shanghai” Lecture in New York

To encourage dialogue between Chinese Americans and American Jews, the  US-China Cultural Institute co-sponsored a luncheon with the Anti-Defamation League that featured a slide presentation by noted Sino-Judaic scholar Pan Guang on the long history of Jews in China, from the 8th century to World War II.

​Phillips Academy China Concert Tour

Facilitated by the US-China Cultural Institute, 176 Phillips Academy students in the school choir, opera society and orchestra, visited China for concerts with their Chinese counterparts at Phillip's sister schools, Renmin High School in Beijing and Da Tong High School in Shanghai, held in the renowned Beijing Concert Hall and Shanghai Grand Theater.

​“My 1919” Screened in Washington, DC

A select group of influential Washington cultural leaders saw the Chinese film, "My 1919,"giving them a Chinese perspective on a dramatic turning point in China's relations with the West, at a private screening hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America, Asia Society Washington Center and the US-China Cultural Institute.

2000

"Six Dance images of Zhou dynasty"

​Joint event hosted by Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Grand Theatre, with the US-China Cultural Institute (USA) and the Wuhan Conservatory of Music as organizers: exhibition of Bronze, music instruments and premiere of commission of Tan Dun's "Six Dance images of Zhou dynasty" choreographed and danced by Doudou Huang.

​Opera Master Class

Three-week Master Class at Shanghai Conservatory of Music led by coaches from the Metropolitan Opera, New York. This program was hosted by Zhou Xiaoyan Opera Center of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, with financial support from the Switzerland MAECENAS Foundation for Ancient Art. The US-China Cultural Institute served as organizer of the program.

​Symposium on Wellington Koo and Chinese Diplomacy

An international academic symposium held in Shanghai on China's longest-serving diplomat and three-time Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. V. K.Wellington Koo was jointly organized by Fudan University in Shanghai and Columbia University in the United States with support from the US-China Cultural Institute.

​Chinese Baritone Debuts at Kennedy Center

C.Y. Liao participated in the US-China Cultural Institute's first opera master class in August and in November was singing Count di Luna under the baton of Placido Domingo in the Washington Opera production of Il Trovatore at the Kennedy Center, a highly-praised performance made possible in part by the assistance of the Institute, which helped arrange and publicize his visit.