On the evening of March 17, INFO Guangdong invited 98 audience members from 29 countries and regions to join a symphony concert performed by the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra at the Xinghai Concert Hall.
The event is part of an expat club series organized by INFO Guangdong, a platform aimed at sharing information and hosting social activities for expats in the province. Before the event, it launched an online ticket giveaway and collaborated with international communities across Guangzhou to recruit participants.
The performance, which included a diverse setlist covering classics, jazz, film scores, etc., aimed to introduce a wider public to the world of symphony.
Linhan Cui, Principal Conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, highlighted music's unifying power, noting that regardless of culture or skin color, "At this moment, we are together." Young pianist Caden Wang echoed this sentiment, hoping the audience felt how music can "come across culture and language" and that classical music "isn't something dead."
The concert successfully resonated with the diverse crowd. Colin Fuller, an American college teacher, praised the "incredibly talented musicians" and described the night as an exciting event that allowed him to show his son "the wonderful culture that we have here in Guangzhou."
Micah Anderson, a music teacher from the US, shared that his greatest pleasure was watching young children in the crowd look up in awe at the stage and seeing kids connected with music, which seems far away but could be part of their future and life.
For Pham Thuy Anh, a Vietnamese university student, the highlight was the Chinese piece that she found incredibly powerful and grand when she closed her eyes to listen. After hearing predominantly European and American music earlier in the program, she had been eagerly waiting for this local composition.
Beyond the music, the event also served as a valuable community gathering. Janis Motz, a German engineer who recently relocated to Zhuhai from Jiangsu province, expressed his gratitude for the concert. He pointed out that such events provide a rare and excellent opportunity to meet new people and connect with professionals in the area.
Related news: Ticket Giveaway | Spring concert highlights in Guangzhou
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Video & Poster | Qin Shaolong
