Australian orchestra performs in Beijing

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Beijing, July 9 (People's Daily Online) – Aiming to show the spirits and the good manners of overseas young Chinese, Australian New Goldberg Orchestra, the first orchestra in the world founded by an overseas Chinese school and made up of mainly overseas young Chinese, gave a special performance at the National Grand Theatre in Beijing, July 8, 2014.

The performance, hosted by Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and undertaken by Overseas Chinese Affairs office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, is a part of the 2014 Music Summer Camp themed Finding Roots in China.

Sun Haoliang, head of Australian Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School and founder of Australian New Goldberg Orchestra, said that the performance in the National Grand Theatre was not only a great honor, but also an opportunity to report to homeland country and to show the spirits and the good manners of overseas young Chinese.

Australian New Goldberg Orchestra, founded by Australian Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School, is mainly made up of Australian Chinese teachers, students and alumnus of the school. Although most of members of New Goldberg are young Australian Chinese, they all had been trained professionally. Many of them are the main players in their own school bands.

At present, there are more than 50 members in the orchestra. 11-year-old boy Daniel, the youngest member, told People's Daily Online that it was his first time to China. "I went to Tiananmen Square and the Palace Museum yesterday, Beijing is a very nice place," he said.

"New Goldberg" means it belongs to Chinese who live overseas. "Goldberg" is a German word which means "Gold Mountain". It came from the "Goldberg Variations" by Bach. The name "Goldberg" shows that "integrating East and West Cultures, flourishing the multiculturalism in Australia" is the aim and purpose of this young orchestra.

Many of the music the orchestra plays are original. They are the new music blending both East and West arts and cultures. Music like China Rhapsody and Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star are full of Chinese elements, which aroused strong response from the audience.

The Shabanzhuang Primary School choir from Beijing's Chaoyang District has participated in the grand finale Xin Jin Shan Symphonic Poem.