2024 Summer Travels in China

Dear friends,

As some of you know, my first trip to China took place in 2011.    I undertook the trip as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Department of State. That trip marked the beginning of what I see as a lifelong journey of discovery, exploration, and appreciation of Chinese culture. This summer, I returned to China once again as an Arts Envoy for performances and activities in Fujian and Guangdong Provinces, and in Beijing.  I reunited with many dear friends, including the great conductor Maestra Zheng Xiaoying with whom I performed Carmen excerpts and debuted new songs by Faye Chiao and Elliot Leung.  I reconnected with a young friend who I met on an earlier trip, Huang Yicheng in his native Nanjing County.  Yicheng taught me about the term “Zhi Yin” last summer when we met, a concept so potent it became the focus of an op-ed I did in the New York Times last year.  I was also delighted to return to Zhangzhou and perform with another close friend, acclaimed Puppet Master Chen Lihui.

With Maestra Zheng Xiaoying

With Puppet Master Chen Lieu

In addition, I had the chance to make new friends with so many talented artists such as pianist Ruan Yang Yang, haute couture designer Guo Pei, fashion designer LI Xi, Lyricist Qu Cong, the singer from the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Group, and many others.  I want to especially thank several key friends who made this trip possible, notably U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, whom I had the privilege of working with at Harvard's Kennedy School prior to his appointment in China, Public Affairs Officer Mary Sue Fields, whom I have known since my first trip to China in 2011, Brian Brendel and the whole team at the Consul General in Guangzhou, and especially Alice Kong who was at my side translating and supporting at every step as only a true friend could!  I also want to thank my Chinese friends including Chen Chunmei, Minister Counselor for Culture at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC, the Foreign Affairs Offices in Fujian, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Guangzhou and Guangdong, and the incredible team at the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center, led by Yuan Chen and our TTA Project Manager Qiuyang Chen.

Each time I travel to China,  I feel fortunate to learn so much from my friends there.  I hope that in sharing my experiences with you, I can pass along some of the ideas and wisdom that made my trips so valuable.  In that spirit, one lesson that particularly impressed me from this trip is from the Analects by Confucius: 

"Man's maturity is fostered through enlightening of poems, educating of etiquette, and exploring of music."

May we never underestimate the power of music to help us mature as individuals, as a society, and as humans.

Warmest,

Carla