Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Delegation Embarks on A Four-City China Tour

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Tour Highlights the Universal Power of Music and Celebrates the 40^th Anniversary of the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Relationship

BALTIMORE, MD (October 7, 2025) — The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announced today that five of its musicians together with BSO President & CEO Mark Hanson will be traveling to China to represent the BSO, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, October 24 through November 2, 2025. As part of the tour, the BSO ensemble will share a special performance at the Jiageng Theatre to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Xiamen, China, and the City of Baltimore.

“Music is a universal language, and the Baltimore Symphony is a cultural jewel of the city and the state,” said President & CEO Mark Hanson. “Beyond inspiring, entertaining and educating audiences of all ages here at home, the BSO is again stepping into the familiar role of cultural ambassador abroad through the talents of an ensemble of BSO musicians. We are honored to have received invitations from such esteemed organizations in China and to contribute to international relationship building on a local and statewide level.”

Tour performances and special appearances include:

• Hangzhou | October 24-27, 2025 | Engagements at Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and Zhejiang University and a special joint concert at Zhejiang Concert Hall with the members of Hangzhou Philharmonic to open the Seventh China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference in Hangzhou City.
• Xiamen | October 28 – 29, 2025 | Cultural exchanges with Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Xiamen Song & Dance Theatre; Visit to Gulangyu Island; Luncheon with leaders of Xiamen Municipal Government and Foreign Affairs Office; and a concert celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of Xiamen-Baltimore Sister Cities.
• Xi’an | October 30, 2025 | A performance as part of the Silk Road International Tourism Expo.
• Shanghai | October 31 – November 1, 2025 | A performance at the Shanghai Conservatory with attendees from the U.S. Consulate, members of the American companies based in Shanghai and Chinese companies based in Maryland, and music lovers.

Participating musicians from the BSO include YaoGuang Zhai, principal clarinet; Holly Jenkins, violin; Chisa Kodaka, violin; Helen Hess, viola; and Bo Li, cello. Tour repertoire will include the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, Weber Clarinet Quintet, selections from Ravel and Borodin String Quartets, and select Chinese songs.

The BSO has a rich history of international touring, including full Orchestra tours to Asia in 1994, 1997, and 2002 under past Music Directors David Zinman and Yuri Temirkanvov. The October-November 2025 tour represents the organization’s first time sending an ensemble to China.

“Baltimore is home to the best symphony in the world,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “We are so proud that BSO musicians will be showcasing their talents on the world stage during this visit to our sister city, Xiamen. I look forward to hosting them at City Hall before they leave and wish them safe travels.”

The BSO and the City of Baltimore invite members of the media and public at large to celebrate the forthcoming tour and join in a special Send Off Concert at City Hall on Wednesday, October 8 (5pm arrival, 5:30 – 6:30pm program) featuring remarks from special guests. Held in the City Hall Rotunda, this Send Off Concert is one of several events to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of Baltimore City Hall.

 

About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 

For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The Orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives, including OrchKids.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs annually for more than 275,000 people throughout the state of Maryland. Since 1982, the BSO has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and since 2005, with the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, the BSO became the nation’s first Orchestra performing its full season of classical and pops concerts in two metropolitan areas.

In July 2022, the BSO once again made history with its announcement that Jonathon Heyward would succeed Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop as the Orchestra’s next Music Director. Maestro Heyward began his inaugural season in September 2023.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.

More information about the BSO can be found at BSOmusic.org.

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