Talking in a common language

The brass quintet of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra of Norway. [Photo by Verde Yang/For China Daily]

For the first Eurochestries Festival in China, Liu wanted to showcase young musicians playing music from their own countries.

But he also drew up schedules for musicians from different countries to perform together under the baton of conductors from yet another country.

"It was challenging because the number of musicians was large (500 in all) but they are very disciplined and devoted to this project, despite the cultural and language differences," Liu says, adding, "Music unites people."

Between 2005 to 2012, the Golden Sails Symphony Orchestra of Beijing No 8 Middle School, founded in 2002, performed at the Eurochestries Festival four times, playing music pieces ranging from Torch Festival by Chinese composer Wang Xilin, which was inspired by the ethnic music of Yunnan province, to waltzes by Johann Strauss II.

During the festival held in Qingdao this year, the orchestra played pieces, including the second movement from Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No 10.

"The students challenged themselves successfully with very demanding music pieces," says Liu Lu, conductor and music teacher of the orchestra, who graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music with a conducting major and joined in the orchestra in 2005.

"But it's not just about music. It teaches the students how to accomplish things and how to communicate."