The Tianjin Juilliard School (TJS) and the Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA) announced a partnership designed to encourage academic and musical exchange and to advance the missions of both organizations. HE Wei , artistic director and dean of The Tianjin Juilliard School and HE Doug, vice president and executive director of the Shanghai Orchestra Academy signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of the two institutions. Under the MOU, TJS and SOA will encourage mutual visits between their respective faculty and students, and collaborative performances. The two schools have also committed to researching other ways to expand cooperation.

Photo Credit: ZHANG Chao

Initial joint efforts under the MOU are already underway. Selected SOA students will participate in a performance at The Tianjin Juilliard School this March. Also, The Tianjin Juilliard Ensemble will perform in Shanghai Symphony Hall on March 30. During this visit, the Tianjin Juilliard faculty will hold master classes for SOA students. In addition, ZHANG Jiemin, resident conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which is the founding institution of SOA, will conduct the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra this May.