Musician's Association of North America: Our News 2008

Our News
Academic Exchange for Music D20080201001

Winner of the 2007 Palatino Awards, ZHANG Zhao, arrived in L.A. on 1/16/2008 to begin a 7-day academic exchange for music activity with vice president of the organizing committee of the competition, TIAN Jun. 　 ZHANG Zhao 　 A Yunnanese, ZHANG started playing the piano at 7 and made his first debut when he was 10. ZHANG's completed his first composition and performed on the 'NIE ER Music Festival' at 16. His piano concerto titled "Shanlin" was performed with a symphony orchestra; at that time, he was 18. In 1983 ZHANG finished his piano performance study at Yunnan Arts Institute. In 1987 ZHANG graduated from the Central University for Nationalities with a double major: composition and piano performance. A year later he earned a master degree in composition from the Central Conservatory of Music with honors. ZHANG is a member of the Chinese Musicians Association, a national grade 1 composer, a professor of the composition department and a graduate student teacher of the Central Conservatory of Music. 　 ZHANG's music creation includes piano pieces, symphonies, folk music, chamber music, dance music, songs, film and TV music, and art music; many of them won numerous national and international awards. This year ZHANG has been invited to compose music for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and also write music for the Olympic Games special TV program on CCTV.

Los Angeles - Live Performance on the 2008 NAMM Show January 17-20, 2008 ZHANG performed his awarded composition titled "Pihuang" and other piano pieces twice daily on the 2008 NAMM Show.

Alan Liu and ZHANG Zhao at Palatino Pianos booth

MANA: ZHANG:	What have you learnt from the performance on the 2008 NAMM Show? Besides my own composition "Pihuang", I also performed several other well-known piano pieces on the show. "Pihuang" made most audience felt interested; they were attracted by its elements of Chinese music. I blend Peking opera music in the creation of "Pihuang". I realized a music contrasts nationalism and personal characteristics attracts people most.

San Francisco - Headquarter of AXL Musical Instruments Co., Ltd. Corp. January 22, 2008 ZHANG arrived in San Francisco and visited the headquarter of our sponsor - AXL Musical Instruments Co., Ltd. Corp. ZHANG had an interview with us during his visit and talked about his opinion on the music industry and music education in nowadays China.

MANA: ZHANG:	Why would you like to participate in the 2007 Palatino Awards competition? There is lack of professional music competitions in China. The professionalism and fairness of the 2007 Palatino Awards competition, plus my own reverence for music creation urged me on participating.

MANA: ZHANG:	What do you think the reason for not having much professional music competitions in China is? Few enthusiastic investors and contestants is the main reason I can think of. Music conservatories are the only group who are enthusiastic about the development of musical arts, but they can't invest a lot on professional competitions for the lack of funding budget.

MANA: ZHANG:	What do you think about the condition of music education in China? Music education is not as common as here (the U.S.). In order to widely promote music education in China, we first need more well-trained teachers and good teaching materials. Music to most Americans is a way to show their love to others, not commercialized. That's what we should learn from Americans.

MANA: ZHANG:	As a music educator, what is your hopes on your students? Firstly I hope they get upgrade on their ideological level; secondly is to participate more actively in competition because they can learn from each other's performance. Competition gives them a motive for composition and a platform to present their works. Students have a proper musical training can enhance their artistically accomplished in music, but what students concern most is employment opportunity - what they can do with a music major. When I was at the same age as my students, there were not much entertainment available; listening to music or playing musical instruments was the only entertainment people had at that time. Nowadays students have a wide variety of entertainments or studies to choose from. Music is no longer their only choice; they don't have an attachment to music.

MANA: ZHANG:	Can you please introduce us to your awarded composition titled "Pihuang"? "Pihuang" is a Peking-opera-music style composition. I had the idea of composing this kind of music 10 years ago but just finished writing it in 2006. Peking opera is a typical Chinese opera; its structure, singing and accompaniment are totally different from Western opera. I pick piano, a commonly known musical instrument, to present the beauty of Peking opera to the world.

MANA: 　 ZHANG:	You are one of the composers invited by the International Olympic Committee to compose music for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Can you please share your work with us? The ceremony is directed by ZHANG Yimou; CHEN Qigang is appointed as music director. We, the composers, compose our own music, compare with each other, and then rewrite our own works. We repeat the whole process again and again until we find the best composition for the ceremony.

MANA: 　 ZHANG:	There are several prospective Olympic theme songs. As a musician and a composer, what do you think is the most important characteristic of the Olympic theme song? It must boast both Chinese and worldwide characteristics, and combine Olympic spirit and humanism spirit together.

MANA: ZHANG:	What is the impact of this academic exchange activity on you? Two things are worth to learn from Americans: the efforts they put into music education and music creation, and civilization. I met musicians from different countries at NAMM and learnt a lot from them. I want to share my experience with other musicians and music lovers in China. Material conditions of two countries are pretty much the same, but an improvement on refinement of though, manners, or taste in China is necessary.

MANA:	Can you please perform your awarded composition "Pihuang" for us?