The Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra is headed to China for the first time this summer.

The orchestra will perform in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong from July 15-26, led by conductor Charles Dutoit.

Wailian Overseas Consulting Group, a Shanghai-based investment immigration company, announced Monday that it has signed on as a tour sponsor.

Launched in 2013, Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute each summer brings together outstanding young musicians (ages 16-19) from across the United States. After a comprehensive audition process and a half-month in residence training with faculty from top professional orchestras, the musicians embark on a tour as American music ambassadors.

In its inaugural season, the orchestra toured Russia and the United Kingdom. Last summer, the musicians toured eight US cities.

Chinese pianist Li Yundi will join the orchestra as a guest soloist, and Chinese composer Tan Dun's new works will be included in the orchestra's repertoire.

Sponsored by Bloomberg LLC, the orchestra is tuition-free for all participating musicians.

"Many thanks to Wailian for helping to make this incredible program possible, connecting talented young musicians from across the US with music lovers throughout China," said Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall.

Within the last 10 years, Wailian has helped raise about $2 billion in capital for more than 60 US EB-5 immigrant investor projects. The investment projects Wailian promoted to Chinese investors include work on the Hudson Yards development and the George Washington Bridge in New York, and the University Hospital of Cleveland, Ohio.

"We are very honored to become a major tour sponsor for Carnegie Hall's 2015 NYO-USA summer tour to China," said Linda He, CEO and president of Walian. "Wailian specializes not only in finding outstanding investment opportunities for Chinese citizens seeking to emigrate, but also in promoting cultural exchange and harmony between our two countries."

Danielle Accettola, president of Wailian's US branch, WL Global Corp, worked with Gillinson on the NYO-USA sponsorship project.

"Wailian has always been dedicated to sponsoring cultural activities, no matter in China or abroad," Accettola said.

In July 2014, NYO-USA's visit to China was designated as one of four Cultural Pillars by the US State Department and Chinese government for the Fifth US-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE). The CPE aims to enhance and strengthen ties between American and Chinese citizens in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, sports and women's issue.

The orchestra tour will formally launch with a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on July 11.

Hong Xiao in New York contributed to this story.