Deputy Party Secretary Liu Yan of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music received Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and his delegation on May 27.

Consul Ifeoma Okwuje from the United States Consulate General in Shanghai was also present.

Liu welcomed the guests and briefed them about the school’s history and friendly communications with the orchestra.

She said that opening up to become an international institute has been the academy’s principle from the very beginning and hoped to carry out further cooperation with the Philadelphia Orchestra in cultivating talent.

With the SHCM’s opera house set to be unveiled in September, Liu invited the orchestra to visit and perform during the unveiling.

Tarnopolsky said the orchestra is willing to offer help and it would be a pleasure to host SHCM teachers and students as part of the two side’s academic exchanges.

China and the United States have maintained rich and frequent art interactions and the collaboration between the school and the orchestra will help bridge the two cultures better, Okwuje commented.

The orchestra also gave a masters’ class to SHCM students during the visit.