EVliving.com

Ford Motor Company and Drive One 4 UR School Event Raises $3,540 for Dobson High School

Mesa, Ariz. – Dobson High School students and families participated in Ford Motor Company’s Drive One 4 UR School program on Sat., Oct.3, and raised $3,540 for the school’s Band Programs. In all, 177 people each raised $20 for Dobson High by test-driving a Ford vehicle provided by Berge Ford.

Drive One 4 UR School, which launched in 2007, demonstrates Ford Motor Company’s commitment to supporting local communities in good times and in bad.. During the past two years, Ford Motor Company has provided more than $1.3 million to high schools that have participated in the program, with further plans to continue this fun, engaging way to help high schools raise money to support their sports and extracurricular activities.

“We loved being able to sponsor the Drive One 4 UR School event, and we’re so glad the community turned out to support Dobson High,” said Steve Countryman, General Sales Manager at Berge Ford. “We know the money will be put to good use, and we’re pleased with the responses we got to our vehicles — especially the Ford Escape and the Ford Fusion. We heard nothing but great feedback about these two great vehicles.”

“Events like Drive One 4 UR School really show how much this community cares about our students,” said Glenny Carter, Band Program Parent Advisor for Dobson High “We can’t thank Ford Motor Company and Berge Ford enough for sponsoring this event. Our kids really had a great time and appreciate all the support”

Published on behalf of Dobson High School
Dobson High Band Programs are planning a huge trip to China in June 2010. They have been selected to participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Music Festival with further participation in the 2010 American Celebration of Music in China. For more information, visit http://www2.mpsaz.org/dobson.

by Anthony Kuhn, NPR News

August 19, 2009 - In recent years, classical music in China has been experiencing a crescendo. China’s conservatories are turning out child prodigy musicians. Cities are sprouting concert halls, and factories are cranking out violins and pianos. And Chinese cultural officials seem determined that their country will become a world-class power in opera, as well.

One of the first Chinese divas to capture the international limelight is soprano Zhang Liping. At a major Beijing opera festival this summer, she reprised the role of Madame Butterfly, which brought her acclaim in London in 2003 and New York in 2004.

Click here to hear/read the rest of the story.

Our tour to China was absolutely wonderful! Our Chinese tour managers were wonderful! I cannot say enough about them – Sheldon Poon, Bruce, etc. They were amazing and really made the trip wonderful. I am immensely grateful to Sheldon and to all the MCI China staff for their expert, untiring, gracious, and most effective help during our China tour.

My personal highlight were the last two performances in Shanghai: Normal University exchange and Zhejiang Concert. The highlight for the performers was the concert ON the Great Wall.

We had a fabulous time and I would be happy to serve as a reference for Music Celebrations.

Dr. Sara Edgerton
Southeast Missouri State University Orchestra

The first batch of 14 restaurants and eateries, which will include Starbucks, KFC and Nanxiang steamed buns, signed agreements with the Shanghai Expo Center yesterday.

This means that Expo visitors will be able to enjoy fast food, classic Chinese cuisine, and coffee and snacks from restaurants including domestic and worldwide brands Pizza Hut, Manabe Coffee, C.Straits Cafe, Jade Garden and others, in an eating area of 15,775 square meters.

Food prices at the Expo will be the same as at downtown outlets, said Chen Xianjing, deputy director of the Shanghai Expo Center. He said the restaurants would be open until midnight, later than the pavilions which will close from 10:30pm.

The center is inviting restaurants to apply to be included in a further 40,000-square-meter food court at the Expo site to include restaurants, cafes, tea houses, coffee shops and bars.

“We will select the restaurants according to their strengths, their brand, their administration — especially when it comes to food safety — their experience of catering big events, and their understanding of the Expo,” said Chen.

It is thought that about 70 percent of up to 600,000 visitors a day will eat on site.

Great Wall of China Even Greater: High-Tech Study Shows Wall Longer Than Previously Known

By CHI-CHI ZHANG Associated Press Writer
BEIJING April 20, 2009 (AP)

The Great Wall of China is even greater than once thought.

A two-year government mapping study has uncovered new sections of the ancient Chinese monument that total about 180 miles (290 kilometers), according to a report posted on the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping Web site.

Using mapping technologies such as infrared range finders and GPS devices, experts discovered portions of the wall — concealed by hills, trenches and rivers — that stretch from Hu Mountain in northern Liaoning province to Jiayu Pass in western Gansu province, the official China Daily reported Monday.

The newly mapped parts of the wall were built during the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644) to protect against northern invaders and were submerged over time by sandstorms that moved across the arid region, the study said.

The additional parts mean the Great Wall — which Chinese emperors began constructing 2,000 years ago to keep out Monguls and invaders — spans about 3,900 miles (6,300 kilometers) through the northern part of the country.

Full Article Here

By Jen Lin-Liu

(Budget Travel) — Welcome to a secret world. For nearly 500 years, the Forbidden City’s fortified walls and 170-foot-wide moat protected the Chinese imperial family from fires, invaders, and nosy Europeans.

These days, a new menace lurks outside the barriers: the wrecking ball. All over Beijing, ancient hutong, or alleyways, and traditional houses with tiled roofs and courtyards are giving way to state-of-the-art highways and skyscrapers.

Thankfully, the Forbidden City has not only dodged the bulldozer, it’s been newly restored, from its charcoal-heated kang beds to its gold-lacquered banquet halls.

Full Article Here

Continental Inflight Magazine
Rob McKeown

Seductive, glamorous, captivating, and booming beyond belief, Shanghai is a showstopper, a surprising blend that mixes Eastern culture and traditions with foreign influences and 21st-century style. Dramatic changes have been driven by a serendipitous combination of state-fueled economic policy and foreign investment — and they’re helping to make Shanghai the new global face of China.

One curious fact: Shanghai has been here before. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, the city saw a surge in glamour as Westerners — mostly Europeans as well as a sprinkling of Americans — took over much of the old town and set about creating a sort-of Paris East, a city of European-influenced style, design, and culture.

What’s incredible about Shanghai’s current burst is the way the city is enjoying the same visual excitement and eclectic, China-meets-the-West allure that fueled its last glamour age. And the current boom stands a good chance of being more sustained than the last one. In the early 20th century, strict regulations confined foreign business to certain designated zones, and back then it was mostly foreigners leading the charge into new areas of style and taste. This time, many if not most of the trendsetters are Chinese. This emotional and human connection between East and West defines the real face of the future.

Full Article Here

We just heard this story on this morning’s Morning Edition. Very cool!

Morning Edition, March 10, 2009 - For many years, music scholars in China and Japan tried unsuccessfully to decipher ancient musical notations that looked a bit like Chinese characters. They found the key to the puzzle in the city of Xi’an in northwest China, where the music is still performed by a dwindling number of orchestras. The notation was used by court musicians of the Tang Dynasty as far back as the seventh century, predating Europe’s Gregorian chants, which are commonly described as the earliest written music.

Click here to hear/read more.

Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, September 4, 2008
Story appeared in ELK GROVE LAGUNA section, Page F6

“Love in Any Language … Straight from the Heart, Pulls Us All Together, Never Apart” was the theme of the recent trip to China for the Sacramento-based organization Galena Street East.

The group dazzled audiences in the cities of Beijing, Qinghuandao and Tianjin.

Galena Street East, California’s Young Performing Ambassadors, recently returned from an 11-day adventure as pre-Olympic guests and hosts of Music Celebrations International.

Richard and Jeri Clinger, directors, wanted this year to be a special year and to truly experience the theme of the Olympics – “One World, One Dream.”

The performers were able to share one of their numbers, “Love in Any Language,” at the Great Wall. The performers felt the power and determination of a culture full of heartache, oppression, pride and custom.

As Taylor Quist, a performer from Roseville, commented, “It was beautiful … thinking about how much time and effort it took them so long ago is really inspiring.”

The performance in Qinghuandao, 320 kilometers northeast of Beijing, was a thrilling opportunity to share song and dance with a community that had never experienced an American musical performance. The 1,200-seat auditorium was nearly full to capacity 45 minutes before show time. Townspeople, city and government officials, all showed their appreciation by waving hand clappers and glow sticks and proudly walking on stage with flowers and other gifts for the soloists.

Hailey Busath, a performer from east Sacramento, exclaimed, “Amazing! It makes you feel so wonderful to know that you are representing your country and showing your culture to a whole other nation.”

The Central Conservatory of Music was an unforgettable experience. It is difficult to express the warm hospitality we felt as we pulled up alongside the 53,000- square-meter campus and saw the students lined up waiting for our arrival. They clapped as we walked onto the campus. We exchanged a few dances and enjoyed an entertaining lunch with them as well.

The average 15-course meals became the delight of our group as the consensus was that we preferred “real” Chinese food. It was an eye-opener for many of our youths to see the respect of other teenagers and realize that many of these students make their homes, at a young age, on that campus to have a potential of a better life than their parents.

We do not know what it is to live in a nation with a rich culture and history that dates back thousands of years. We do not know what it feels like to have our young children go to a boarding school for music, dance, gymnastics, etc., so they can have a better life. We do not know what it must be like to live in a city like Beijing with 10 million people. We do not know what it would feel like to be restricted in our religious worship.

What we do know, however, is that we laugh at the same things, want our world to be a better place for our children and that music and dance truly unite us as a world.

Marnie Hill, a parent chaperone from Natomas, summed it up well when she said, “No matter what country we are in, people are people – they love their families, work hard and appreciate their culture. They have hopes, dreams and goals just like we do.”

Full Article Here

(Travel + Leisure) — China can seem as impenetrable as it is imposing. Consider the numbers: it’s the world’s most populous nation (1.3 billion), where more than 100 cities have populations over a million. Fifty-six ethnic groups are spread across 22 wildly distinct provinces and five autonomous regions, in a landmass slightly larger than the U.S.

Its history seems limitless and its traditions just as deep. But here and now, change is the only real constant — and it is accelerating at a dizzying pace. (One thousand new cars hit the streets of Beijing every day.)

How do you begin to fathom a country of such extremes? The futuristic cities glittering above timeworn villages; the great rivers and vast empty deserts; the radical new architecture juxtaposed with millennia-old monuments; the ceaseless push-and-pull between Confucianism, Communism, and commerce. Where do you even begin? Have no fear. Start here with Travel + Leisure’s suggestions for where to go and what to see.

Full Article Here

The Peninsula Young Artists Orchestra is touring China! Follow along as they are posting pictures on their tour blog daily!

BLOG

California’s Young Performing Ambassadors Galena Street East, a specialty group of singers and dancers, recently returned from performing and touring China in the 2008 Pre-Olympic Music Festival - part of the annual American Celebration of Music in China. The following is what Jeri Clinger, Artistic Director, had to say about their experience:

Our performing tour of China was amazing. It surpassed all of our expectations. We have made life long friends with Sheldon Poon. He is an incredible individual!!!! He has so many stories and information to give, which he did so freely. He promised to come to California to see the Christmas show and also the Nutcracker Ballet who your company sent to China. I attribute a large part of success for tour to him.

Our tour guides, and Master drivers were perfect. Patrick and Brian, from your China MCI office were with us part of the time and were so helpful. The performances were a tremendous success and we loved meeting, eating and performing with all of our new Chinese friends. We will certainly be returning to China!!!

We thank your wonderful staff, Taylor, Luke, and Edmundo, for all of their time and effort in our behalf. We will recommend MCI to all of our directors that we work with.

Our accommodations were wonderful and we never stopped eating great food. Some our kids were told to take power bars with them in case they did not like the food but they never even opened them.

Everywhere we went we felt like celebrities. Our audiences seem to like us as well as we did them. Thanks again….and all I can say is what is next???

Sincerely,
Jeri Clinger
Director of Galena Street East

This past month’s issue of National Geographic Magazine was fully dedicated to China, the emerging industrial powerhouse. This issue has several fascinating featured articles to help educate the world on current events in China and offers insights into its many cultures.

Several of our clients who are considering touring to China with their music ensembles have commented on these articles and how they have enforced and increased their interest in touring China.

I believe that Music Celebrations International is truly a full service company that genuinely cares about their clients….that’s rare these days! I sincerely appreciate your generosity!

I also want you to know what a pleasure it has been for me to work with Carol & Edmundo to make all these tour arrangements. They are spectacular at what they do! I have never taken the lead on an international tour, so I was somewhat insecure going into this process. Carol & Edmundo were always there to answer my questions and lead me to success. For that, I am very appreciative.

I manage all five of the Gustavus touring ensembles and will definitely make MCI my first choice when planning future international tours!

Lisa Westphal
Manager of Music Tours
Gustavus Adolphus College

The Gustavus Adolphus Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Warren Friesen, embarked today (1/18/08) on their 14 day tour to China, visiting and performing in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, and Guilin as part of the American Celebration of Music in China concert series.

The Symphony has set up a blog to chronicle their adventures in Asia. Follow along HERE.

By Jim Carnes

It’s hard to resist the smiling, clean-scrubbed faces and the contagious enthusiasm of the young hoofers, hooters and, well, all-round entertainers who are Galena Street East.

Even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has fallen under their spell.

Galena Street East was founded in Sacramento by Richard and Jeri Clinger in 1972 to provide training and performance opportunities to developing young artists in the community. Galena Street also provides music scholarships for some members, and each year, the group’s touring company represents Sacramento on a people-to-people goodwill performing tour.

These musical “ambassadors,” as they are called, will mark their 36th year with performances this week at the governor’s tree-lighting ceremony Tuesday at the Capitol and with “Light the December Nights,” the latest of the group’s Holiday Tapestry shows, Friday and Saturday at the Hiram Johnson High School Theater.

Come summer, Galena Street East’s group of older performers will tour China as participants in a pre-Olympics music festival, American Celebration of Music 2008. They will perform in Beijing, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao, official venue sites of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics – as well as at the Great Wall.

Notifying the group of its acceptance as California representatives in the tour, Music Celebrations International president John P. Wiscombe cited the group’s “excellent recommendations” and “past achievements” in performance and promised the group a “rewarding and memorable experience both educationally and musically.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger also congratulated the group, saying, “I am especially proud that one of my favorite performing groups will be delighting international audiences.”

Full article here

The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra toured and performed throughout China in the 2007 American Celebration of Music in China concert series put on by Music Celebrations International. Fran Richman, executive director, reported

“the trip was absolutely wonderful—and the on-the-ground people were truly fabulous!”

The f0llowing are excerpts from MYSO’s tour blog:

What an amazing day! We started with the Great Wall—where we heard over and over “I can’t believe I’m actually here!” A great performance with a wonderfully international audience and with the Great Wall visible both behind AND in front of the orchestra, then a great climb (ah, youth!), a great visit to the cloisonné factory, with a great lunch to boot, and then a performance by a troupe of great Chinese acrobats./blockquote>

Xi’an rolled out the red carpet for MYSO with a Royal Welcome Ceremony in front of the main gate that leads into the ancient city–modern day Xi’an now extends well beyond the boundaries of the old city walls. City officials presented Fran Richman, Margery Deutsch, Carter Simmons, and Susan Wernecke with a key to the Xi’an city gate. Following the presentation, MYSO students were welcomed into the gated city by musicians and dancers, and then lead into another part of the city for more music and dance!

After a short rest at the hotel, we had a rehearsal at the Xi’an Grand Hotel Theater (a change of venue from your tourbooks–a lovely hall!). After dinner, we performed our final concert in China. And what a concert it was!! A full house, an extremely appreciative audience, and a strong performance by the orchestra.

Anonymous: “Wow! What an amazing final concert! The audience actually wanted us to play encores. They loved us! I got three autographs–wait–I mean I signed three autographs. The constant snapping of cameras was like paparazzi! I now have enough happiness to last three years at least!”

To view the full tour blog, click here

I heard this story on PRI’s “The World” last week. It provides good insight to grassroots movements in China toward greater awareness and appreciation of Western classical music, highlighted by the Beijing International Music Festival.

http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/13255

BEIJING, China (AP) — If you’re planning a trip to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but you fear you may tire of Olympic fever and flag-waving throngs, don’t despair. Beijing has rich offerings when it comes to art, music, groovy boutiques and quiet temples.

Most of the capital city’s guided tours are about awe and acquisition. Visitors are stunned into submission by the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square, then quickly shuttled to buying sprees at the Pearl Market or Silk Street.

The humbling grandeur of those imperial masterpieces is offset by the giddy empowerment of buying quality knockoffs of brands like Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Tiffany for a fraction of the usual cost. Few can resist the temptation. It is usually followed by a belly-busting Peking duck feast.

Click here for the rest of the story.

By Kati Schardl
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

When the Tallahassee Community Chorus journeyed to Beijing in July to perform at the International Choral Festival, it was a family affair for featured soloist Marcia Porter - in more ways than one.

“I think of the people in the chorus as my singing family,” said Porter, an FSU voice professor. “But if you’re going to be gone for that length of time (nearly two weeks), you also want to have your biological family with you.”

Especially if one of those family members is a bright-eyed, good-natured 18-month-old toddler.

Porter brought her son, Joshua, on the China trip, along with husband Torrio Osborne and mother Edwina Porter.

Porter’s coterie of relations was one of a dozen family units that made the trip. Among the 113-person contingent from Tallahassee, several chorus members brought siblings, cousins and aunts. Sons and daughters asked moms and dads to come along, and wives wanted husbands by their side.

Chorus director André Thomas, a seasoned world traveler, brought wife Portia and son Jordan, 25, on the trip. It was the first time Thomas’ wife and son, an architectural engineer in Wichita, Kan., had traveled to Asia, and the first time Thomas himself had visited mainland China (he had previously spent a month in Taiwan conducting choral groups).

“It was great having (Jordan) around to explain the new type of buildings (the group saw being built in China) and their construction,” Thomas said in an e-mail from Cleveland, where he was helping his daughter move into a new apartment.

“It is not often that my family can accompany me when I am conducting, and it was a delight!

“This was a wonderful trip!”

Click here for full article

With the Olympics approaching, China is re-creating its once grim capital on an awesome scale.

By Melinda Liu
Newsweek International

Aug. 13, 2007 issue - The transformation of Beijing for the 2008 Olympics is emerging as perhaps the most ambitious remake of any major world capital in history, short of the postwar reconstructions. The silhouettes of the spectacular new stadium and swimming center are already familiar worldwide, but they are set in a rebuilt urban core that startles return visitors. Lush new green spaces, swirling expressways, shopping arcades roofed with giant LED screens, a new downtown financial center plus a vastly expanded public trans-port system have all rapidly appeared. To some, the Olympic-driven metamorphosis evokes the remaking of Paris by Baron Haussmann between 1865 and 1887—a complete redesign of the city center, including the creation of the grand boulevards for which Paris is famous today.

Click here for full article