“Music is the sound with thought”, once said Victor Hugo. The sound bridges the gap between the two civilizations from Lake Michigan to the Great Wall. At 7:30 p.m. on the evening of May 11th, the University of Michigan Symphonic Band tour's first stop in China was opened at Zijingang theater, Zhejiang University. Both of the University of Michigan Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra Wenqin of Zhejiang University performed a wonderful show.

President WeiYang, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor QiangZheng, deputy party secretary of Zhejiang University ,Professor WeidongLuo, vice president of Zhejiang University, Professor Lester Monts, senior vice president of the University of Michigan and Professor Michael Haithcock, conductor of the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra attended the concert. Professor QiangZheng gave a warm welcome in English to the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra's visit, and expressed the hope that music strengthens the deep friendship between the two schools.

At the beginning of concert, students of Symphony Orchestra WenQin got on the stage in black dresses, and conductor CongZhou step on the podium in warm applause from the audience. They chose to play “Ruska and Ludmilla” overture as the first movement of the performance. Overture primer was cheerful and full of vitality, attracting all the audience. When it came into overture's exposition, the string section was played lightly, while violin was bright and clear, and exceptionally wonderful. A strong growth momentum of the scene was laid out by the Chord at the end of overture, and the atmosphere set the audience on fire. Next came the fourth movement of Dvorak's “Ninth Symphony”, of which the tune was filled with ups and downs.

After the wonderful performance of WenQin, Professor Lester Monts, senior vice president of the University of Michigan, gave a speech for the concert. He not only brought the greetings of principals and students from the University of Michigan, but also conveyed the Michigan governor's blessing. He hoped that the concert could play a role to promote the cultural exchanges between the two countries and he also invited Zhejiang University to visit back. After this passionate speech, formally opened the University of Michigan Symphonic Band.

Concert band prepared four tracks in the first half, including “Rhythm Dragon” and “Lost Vegas” which were first played in China. After the break, Professor XiangGao, who was guest violinist of the band and graduate of the University of Michigan, got on the stage. He deliberately chose a red shirt, while Chinese culture and the emergence of Chinese face immediately detonated the scene. After Professor Haithcock took his place, the cheering audience turned into quiet, looking forward to the perfect combination of violin and pipe. The music of “the Two Jade Articles”, of which the violin combined with wind and percussion instruments, was very lively and light. The next Massenet's “Meditation” was lyrical and soft with clean melodies. After the end of the piece, applause lasted for a long time. In the audience’s “encore” cries, XiangGao came back to the stage to speech a hello and go on to play “Charldas Dance”. After playing a few themes of the final” Star Wars”, the audience longed for more , so that Haithcock went back again and again. Finally, he humorously said to play” the Last Dance” for everybody. At the end of the music came the thunderous applause, while the audience stood up to applaud for the superb performance.

After the performance , the conductor Professor Michael Haithcock told student reporters that they selected some special tracks based on the preferences of the Chinese audience, and indeed achieved good results. Zhejiang University students also made a positive interaction to create a hot atmosphere. CongZhou, head of Symphony Orchestra WenQin, spoke highly of the professional skills of the University of Michigan Band.

From Lake Michigan to the West Lake, the musical exchange across half the globe was successfully ended. But the story has just begun for the two schools. Music is a language without borders. The cultural concert got a great success and brought a visual and auditory feast for students of Zhejiang University. At the same time ,it has made a tighter combination of the two school and continues to promote exchanges and cooperation of both.

Background information:

The activities of 2011 “the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra tour of China” have been prepared for a long time. Back in June 2010, senior vice president of the University of Michigan, the famous musician Lester Monts and Michael Haithcock who is conductor of Symphony Orchestra made up a four-member delegation, visited Zhejiang University and conducted exchanges and discussions with leaders of our school on the plans of the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra performances and activities of cultural experience. The activities achieved strong sponsorship and support of Chinese Language Council International, the school leaders and relevant departments. Department of Foreign Affairs was responsible for the exchange of performances as the overall coordination of department. They have implemented a careful and meticulous preparation with the University of Michigan and Chinese Language Council International, and got supports of different departments of Zhejiang University to ensure a complete success.

The University of Michigan Symphonic Band is famous as the modern American Wind movement leader. Its excellent tradition began from 1927, when Leonard Falcone was the band director. From then on, they began to make a positive innovation and breakthroughs and got over the limitations that the Symphonic Band tracks were often limited by playing sports and processions parade.

It was the most historic moment when the University of Michigan Symphonic Band, funded by the U.S. Department of State, visited the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the Middle East in 1961. In the world-famous theater, such as La Scala in Milan and New York's Carnegie Hall, the orchestra had played the concerts. Audience were crazy for the Pipe Band. After the scheduled end of the performance tracks, the audience often repeatedly requested encore up to an hour.

Michael Haithcock was employed by the University of Michigan in 2001 and became music director of the University of Michigan Symphonic Band. He took the Orchestra's tradition seriously and conducted innovation on the basis of its original. Professional standards of performance coupled with the highest standards embodied track is the band's logo.

The University of Michigan Symphonic Band’s traditional performance tour will extend to China in May 2011. During the three-week visit, the band will visit Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenyang, Tianjin and Beijing. The tour will be finally fixed in Los Angeles, California, where the Band will be invited to the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Walt Disney Concert Hall stage.