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STRADIVARI SOCIETY® NEWS
A Special China Evening
Four Outstanding Chinese Artists
Receive Loans of Rare Instruments at a Gala Event in Chicago
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| Dignitaries and new recipients at the Gala
event, front: Recipient Hou Yi-Jia, Consul General of China Xu
Jinzhong, Society Chairman Geoffrey Fushi, Society Founder and
Patron Mary Galvin, Society Director Li Ling, Consul General of
Canada Anne Charles, Recipient Chang Li-Kuo, Recipient Li Chuanyun.
Back: Recipient Lu Siqing, Vice Consul General of China Shen Weilian,
Patron Paul Steinwachs, Executive Chief of Staff to Mayor Daley Gene
Lee, and Culture Consul Yang
Song |
A magnificent musical bridge of friendship spanning the United States and
China was built during “A Stradivari Society® China Evening” on Monday, July
7, 2003. The dazzling gala featured performances by four outstanding Chinese
artists—Chang Li-Kuo, Hou Yi-Jia, Li Chuanyan, and Lu Siqing—who received
loans from the Society of four exquisite antique instruments valued at
$9,000,000. Curtiss Hall, Chicago’s oldest performance space, was the venue
for the glittering event. The hall filled to capacity despite the lack of
air conditioning and over 90 degree heat and high humidity for the
spectacular performances. The Society’s Director Li Ling served as Master of
Ceremonies. “We are all so gratified that our work in China is forging a
bond of brotherhood through music between our two peoples,” commented
Geoffrey Fushi. “I am so gratified to see our work come to fruition and
eager to expand the Society’s work with Chinese musicians. I see the future
of classical music in their enthusiasm, artistry, and dedication.”
Business and Government Leaders Praise the Society
Mary Galvin and Geoffrey Fushi Receive a Special Commendation from
Chicago’s Mayor Daley
Giving introductory remarks to the standing-room-only audience were former
Motorola Chairman Christopher Galvin, Executive Chief of Staff to Mayor
Daley Gene Lee, and Consul General of China Xu Jinzhong. All paid tribute to
the Society’s work in furthering both the future of classical music by
supporting artistry at the highest level and the bond of friendship between
the U.S. and China.
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Mary Galvin,
Geoffrey Fushi, and Jean Fushi |
Society Chairman Geoffrey Fushi and Founder Mary Galvin were presented with
a handsome leather-bound Letter of Commendation by Mr. Lee, on behalf of
Mayor Daley, acknowledging with the highest praise and gratitude the many
accomplishments of The Stradivari Society®. Mary Galvin and Geoffrey Fushi
expressed their deepest appreciation to Mayor Daley as well as the many
patrons, artists, and dignitaries in attendance, including Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Steinwachs, Consul General of Canada Anne Charles, Consul General of Japan
Mitsuo Sakaba, Vice Consul General of China Shen Weilian, and Culture Consul
of China Song Yang.
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| Ling Li, Geoffrey Fushi, and Mary Galvin
with the new recipients: Lu Siqing, Hou Yijia, Chang Likuo, and Li
Chuanyun |
Presentation of Instruments
Society Founder Mary Galvin and Director Li Ling presided over the
presentation ceremony. The four artists voiced their profound gratitude and
took the heat in stride.
An Evening of Glorious Music Making
The program of European and Chinese solo and duo classics was performed with
breathtaking virtuosity and profound depth of interpretation. Music by Bach,
Schubert, Massenet, Kreisler, Gang and He, Handel, Bazzini, and a
never-before-performed work by Glazunov dazzled the audience. Standing
ovations honored each performance. “It was one of the most spectacular
concert experiences I have ever presented,” said Geoffrey Fushi. “These four
amazing artists truly are the future of classical music.” Pianists Huang
Kuang-hao and Jelena Dirks accompanied.
Kudos and Interviews by Local, National, and International Media
The media was out in force for the Gala. The extensive television coverage
included CCTV 1, CCTV 4 (Chinese international broadcast), CCTV 9 (English
international broadcast), China Star TV (Chicago’s own Chinese outlet),
ABC-TV, Channel 7, Chicago; and NC-TV, Channel 5, Chicago. Print coverage
was also substantial: World Journal—the top Chinese newspaper in the U. S.,
Chicago China News & Digest, Chinese American News, and Music Lover
Magazine—based in Shanghai.
The Recipients and Instruments
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| Patron Paul Steinwachs warmly greets
recipient Chang Li-Kuo |
Chang Li-Kuo •A Viola by Gasparo da Salò, Brescia c 1590, “Adam Collection” • Paul Steinwachs, Patron
A native of Shanghai, Chang has served as assistant principal viola with the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1988. He was appointed to that position by
the legendary Sir Georg Solti. He is on the faculty of Northwestern and
Roosevelt universities as well as a former faculty member of the Affinis
Music Festival in Hagano, Japan. Chang recently appeared as soloist with
Pinchas Zukerman and the Chicago Symphony performing Bach’s Sixth
Brandenburg Concerto. He has also given numerous master classes in the
United States and China. Chang was a full scholarship student at the Eastman
School of Music. He has studied with Francis Tursi, Donald McInnes, Milton
Thomas, William Magers, and Paul Doktor. He twice played for William
Primrose at his master classes.
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| Li Chuanyun and Hou Yi-Jia in a duo
performance accompanied by Huang Kuang-hao |
Hou Yi-Jia • A Violin by the Guarneri School, Cremona c 1740 • Gail Ellis,
Patron
Canadian-Chinese violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou has won Gold Medals in three
of the top international violin competitions: the 1999 Concours
International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud in France, 1999 Rodolfo
Lipizer International Violin Competition in Italy, and the 1997 Pablo
Sarasate International Violin Competition in Spain. All three juries were
unanimous for the first time in the history of international violin
competitions. Hou also won the F. Nakamichi Sibelius Violin Competition at
the Aspen Music Festival and is the recipient of the highest grant from the
Canada Council for the Arts. Hou Bachelor of Music degree at The Juilliard
School as a student of Dorothy DeLay and Naoko Tanaka.
Li Chuanyun • A Violin by G.B. Guadagnini, Turin c 1784 • Gary Kosloski,
Patron
One of the brightest of the world’s young stars, China native Li Chuanyun
started his violin studies at the age three with his parents. In 1991, the
11 -year-old Li won the Fifth Wieniawski International Youth Violin
Competition. He was voted the winner unanimously by 20 judges from 11
countries, making him the youngest person ever to win the first prize in his
group. In 1996, Li was awarded a full scholarship to attend Juilliard’s
PreCollege Division where he studied with Dorothy DeLay, Itzhak Perlman, and
Hyo Kang. In 1998, Li won the F. Nakamichi Violin Concerto Competition at
Aspen. Li studied under Dorothy DeLay and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 1999 and 2000. The
Clarisse B. Kampel foundation is currently supporting Li’s studies with Joey
Corpus in New York City.
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| Mary Galvin and Lu Siqing |
Lu Siqing • A Violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, Cremona, 1742,
“Wieniawski” • Mary Galvin, Patron
Lu Siqing was the first Asian violinist to win first prize at the
prestigious Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy in 1987.
Today, the Qingdao-born violinist is one of the most outstanding Chinese
artists of his generation. In June 1996, he became the first Chinese
instrumentalist to present a personal music week. President of China Jiang
Zemin, has attended several of Lu’s performances. Lu has worked very closely
with The Stradivari Society® to promote music exchanges between the U.S. and
China. Tours in 1999 and 2001 featured sold out venues and unprecedented
major media coverage of Lu’s spectacular performances on several magnificent
rare violins. At age 11, Lu was chosen by Lord Yehudi Menuhin to study at
his school in London. Lu then attended the Beijing Conservatory and The
Juilliard School in New York City where he studied with Dorothy DeLay and
Hyo Kang.
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