TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Symphony Youth Orchestra will embark on a nationwide tour from Jan. 21 to 25.
The “Dreams Dancing” tour program will feature Yen Ming-hsiu's (顏名秀) “Solitary Dust,” marking the NSYO’s first performance of a Taiwanese composition. The lineup also includes Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a” and “Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36.”
Founded in July 2023 by NSO Music Director Jun Markl, the NSYO selects around 100 young musicians each year, offering intensive training and performance opportunities. The orchestra debuted internationally in August with performances in Singapore and Thailand.
The tour includes performances at:
- National Concert Hall in Taipei on Jan. 21
- National Dong Hwa University College of The Arts concert hall on Jan. 23
- Miaobei Art Center on Jan. 24
- National Xingang Senior High School of Arts performance hall on Jan. 25
The orchestra will be conducted by National Symphony Orchestra Conductor Emeritus Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉). Conducting the NSYO for the first time, he emphasized the importance of performing local compositions.
Lu described “Solitary Dust” as a modern piece with ties to a prominent Taiwanese composer. He noted that explaining its context to students fosters meaningful intergenerational dialogue.
“The Nutcracker” is a timeless work beloved by audiences of all ages and is believed to be the first composition to feature the celesta. Regarding “Symphony No. 4,” Lu said its technical challenges are often questioned, but great music transcends the performer’s age.
“I am personally very excited to collaborate with these musicians,” he said.
