On October 26, Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping attended Asia Game Changer Awards Gala 2023 hosted by Asia Society and presented award to the Philadelphia Orchestra with Asia Society Presidents Emeriti Ambassador Nicholas Platt.
In his speech to present an award to the Philadelphia Orchestra, Huang Ping pointed out that fifty years ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra made a grounding-breaking visit to China, becoming the first American orchestra to tour the People’s Republic of China. It not only brought beautiful music to China, but also brought education, improving Chinese people’s ability to appreciate the beauty of western classic music. The visit was so important that it helped bridge the two peoples and pave the way to the normalization of China-US relations.
Throughout the decades, the orchestra has visited China for 12 times. In a couple of days, it is going back to China for the 13th time to mark the 50th anniversary of its first trip to China. History has given the orchestra another responsibility. I hope that its visit will strengthen communication and friendship between the two peoples of these two great countries.
Ambassador Nicholas Platt said the Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit the People’s Republic of China, and it made a deep impression. Although our government-to-government relationship is tense, this exchange continues to flourish thanks to the love of music on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. The Philadelphia Orchestra has been a true Game Changer.
Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsk said, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first trip to China helped break the ice between the US and China and established an enduring conversation between the orchestra and the people of China. I’m very happy to be traveling to China to mark the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first trip to China.
The Asia Game Changer Awards, launched by the Asia Society in 2014 are presented to leaders who have made outstanding contributions to Asia and the world. This year marks its 10th anniversary. This year's honorees include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yao Chen, Jerry Yang, Dr. Stephen Riady, Yayoi Kusama, Shabana Basij-Rasikh and Josie Cruz Natori.
