The University of Pennsylvania's Penn Wharton China Center is partnering with The Philadelphia Orchestra on its 2016 Tour of Asia & China Residency May 19 – June 5.

The Penn Wharton China Center is the presenting sponsor for the Beijing leg of the Orchestra’s three-week, seven-city tour lead by the Orchestra’s Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The tour includes concerts and residencies in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Macao, Tokyo, Osaka and Kawasaki.

“The Penn Wharton China Center is thrilled to sponsor The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2016 Tour of Asia and China Residency in Beijing,” said Amy Gadsden, Penn Global executive director and executive director for Penn China Initiatives. “Penn and the Orchestra share values of inclusion, innovation and local, national and global impact. We are excited to have this opportunity to join forces with the Orchestra in pursuit of these shared goals in conjunction with the Asia tour.” 

The Penn Wharton China Center will host a program with Orchestra musicians offering master training to Chinese students and a reception in Beijing, on May 24. The collaboration highlights the importance both PWCC and the Philadelphia Orchestra place on fostering people to people exchange. 

While in Beijing, the Philadelphia Orchestra will hold concerts on May 24 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor. Chinese pianist Lang Lang joins the Orchestra as soloist at the concert May 24.

Penn has been engaging in China for almost 200 years. The first record of a Penn graduate going to China dates to the 1820s and the first Chinese student arrived at Penn to pursue a degree in dentistry in 1896. Today, more than 1,500 Chinese students and scholars call Penn home. In March 2015, the University launched the Penn Wharton China Center in Beijing, a premier facility that brings China to Penn and Penn to China. PWCC provides on-the-ground support for the growing numbers of programs and collaborations between Penn’s 12 schools and many academic, government and business partners throughout China.

Photographed are (left to right) Executive Deputy of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development Neil Weaver; Executive Director Penn Global Amy Gadsden; Philadelphia Orchestra President & CEO Allison Vulgamore; and City Representative Sheila M. Hess. Photo by Amanda Mott.