Shanghai Conservatory of Music held a ceremony on September 10 to launch the Chinese National Orchestra Research Center under He Lvting Advanced Research Institute for Chinese Music.

SHCM Party Secretary and President Lin Zaiyong presided over the event, which attracted a number of musicians and officials.

Professor Yan Huichang, who is also artistic director and principal conductor for life with Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, was appointed director of the center. A memorandum of understanding between SHCM and HKCO was also signed at the ceremony.

Since its foundation in 1927, Shanghai National Music School (the predecessor of SHCM) has obliged itself with the task of collecting and compiling national music. Under former President He Lvting’s initiative in 1956, the school started the first Traditional Instruments Department in China, which focused on traditional music playing, writing and research.

The newly-founded center will inherit the tradition, look into the Chinese orchestral music and set up relevant database and platforms to promote the classics as well as new pieces home and abroad.