Only weeks after the death of its conductor and founder, five generations of Liverpool’s renowned Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra are to celebrate its 30th anniversary by taking part in a special birthday – and tribute – concert in the city’s famous neo-classical St George’s Hall.
For three decades young musicians from the award winning orchestra have enchanted audiences across the UK and Europe and dazzled the VIP audience at Shanghai’s Expo when they joined forces with Liverpool’s Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its distinguished conductor Vasily Petrenko for a gala performance.
Established in Liverpool in 1983 by one of Mainland China’s most illustrious composers, Mr Li Kui Hsuing – a classically trained multi-‐instrumentalist – it was the first Chinese youth orchestra of its kind in Europe and remains the largest to this day.
Sadly Mr Li passed away on Friday July 12th. At a memorial service (on Monday 22 July) Liverpool’s Mayor Joe Anderson pledged that the legacy of culture and music education forged by Mr Li must be protected and continue. The city’s Lord Mayor Councillor Gary Millar added: “Mr Li was the beating heart of Chinese music and culture in this city. Long may his legacy go on.”
Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra 30th Anniversary Concert
St George’s Hall, Liverpool
Wednesday July 31st 2013, 12.30pm
Admission free but tickets only from Pagoda Arts
