Chinese music school comes to New York City

China's top academy of music has set up its first overseas studio in New York City.

The American Teaching Studio of Chinese Traditional Music from the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) opened its doors at Steinway Hall in Manhattan on Thursday night.

The teaching studio will offer courses on Chinese traditional music and instruments taught by instructors from CCOM. The space will also house musical instruments, artifacts and artwork of cultural significance.

"This marks an important starting point for our school in terms of promoting overseas dissemination of Chinese traditional music,"said CCOM President Yu Feng.

"Previously, performance tours were what we mostly did for promoting our music overseas," said Yu. "But now we have set up a teaching studio with the world's top piano maker in the heart of Manhattan. Everything is so exciting."

"I'm so excited that we'll be the first outside-China education center for traditional Chinese music and instruments," said Ron Losby, CEO of Steinway Musical Instruments. "It's just such extraordinarily beautiful music and needs to be able to be exposed to the world outside of China."

Losby said some of the Chinese traditional musical instruments will be on display together with the Steinway pianos on the first floor of Steinway Hall.

"It's something unique and different, and deserves to be exposed to a wider audience," he added. "If we can have these instruments on display when we have 60,000 people walking and driving by (every day), it will not only be good for Steinway, but it will be good for traditional Chinese music - and the central conservatory."

Losby said both sides are brimming with new ideas.

"Maybe we will simulcast in our location here concerts that occur at CCOM and invite guests to our recital room here for breakfast (because there is a 12-hour time difference), so they can enjoy a live concert from Beijing at Steinway Hall," said Losby.

The event featured a performance by visiting musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments and a recital by pianist and Steinway Artist Yin Chengzong.

Yu was honored by Steinway for his commitment to forging an energetic and productive partnership with Steinway to advance the teaching of traditional and contemporary Chinese music in America.

As China's leading music school, CCOM's piano department also sets a high standard as an All-Steinway School. The conservatory's alumni include Steinway Artists Lang Lang and Wang Yujia.

"For many years, Steinway has enjoyed great synergies with Chinese pianists, and this new teaching studio, in the heart of New York City, is an important development," said Losby.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com