Chinese artistic director: Music helps strengthen ties between nations

Staying true to the belief that music is a bridge between nations, Chinese artistic director Jinwei Zhang is promoting a cultural platform in Washington, DC, to demonstrate how artistic collaboration mirrors broader global cooperation.

The Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS) — led by Zhang, aiming to support young classical musicians at formative stages of their careers — has become a distinguished cultural platform in Washington, DC in just three years.

WIYAMS has brought diverse audiences together through free concerts, reflect the philosophy that music should be open, accessible, and global in its reach. Performers from over a dozen countries, including the US, China, South Korea, Spain, Malaysia and Uzbekistan, have showcased their talents.

What started at the Catholic University of America's Ward Recital Hall has grown to include participants from leading conservatories and universities around the world.

WIYAMS' concerts not only serve as artistic events but also foster cultural dialogue, with post-concert receptions enabling informational conversations between audiences and performers, an integral part of its experience, underscoring the idea of music as a bridge between nations.

Now attracting applications from more than 30 universities, WIYAMS is expanding its reach with each season.

This spirit of cultural exchange was noticeable on Oct 3, when WIYAMS co-presented the opening of the Bulgarian Music Society's 2025–26 season at the Embassy of Bulgaria.

Sponsored by Dr Daniela Power in dedication to her late husband Charles Power and her father Decho Dechev, the event carried the theme Music Salon, with performances of works by Faure, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Ysaye, Schumann, Puccini and Strauss.

Diplomats, music lovers, and members of the local community gathered in the embassy's concert hall, filling it with attentive silence during the performances and lively conversation afterward at the reception.

The opening work, Gabriel Faure's Violin Sonata in A Major, Op 13, was performed by violinist Xiang Fang and pianist Janghyo Yoo. Fang, a prizewinner at the Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition and the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, displayed radiant tone and lyrical phrasing.

Equally compelling was pianist Xiaoya Gao, who appeared with Colin Levins in Rachmaninoff's Six Pieces for Piano Duo, Op 11. Gao, who has performed internationally in Italy, Austria and the United States, brought refinement and sensitivity to her interpretation.

Later in the program, violinist Jiaqi Yu took the stage with Ysaye's Sonata for Solo Violin in A Minor, Op 27, No 2, one of the most demanding works in the violin repertoire. Yu brought precision and emotional intensity to her interpretation. Her performance combined technical brilliance with artistic maturity, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

WIYAMS noted that diplomatic spaces offer more than elegant settings as they embody the organization's goal of connecting cultures through performance. By presenting young artists in embassies and academic halls, the series gives music a role in international dialogue, highlighting the ways in which artistic collaboration mirrors broader global cooperation.

Zhang stressed that by offering young musicians the opportunity to perform substantial repertoire in prominent venues, he hopes to encourage international understanding.

"These musicians are not only performers," Zhang said, "they are cultural ambassadors in their own right."

It has been learned that in Washington, DC, a city known for both its politics and culture, WIYAMS has carved out a distinct role. By uniting young artists of diverse backgrounds on international stages, it has shown that classical music, while rooted in tradition, remains one of the most effective means of building bridges across borders.

Zhang affirmed that as the organization enters its third season, its mission is clear — to support the next generation of musicians while strengthening ties between nations through the universal language of music.

Please contact the writer at yinmingyue@chinadaily.com.cn