ENSEMBLES 2026

Guangzhou Opera House Youth Orchestra

Guangzhou Opera House Youth Orchestra is an independent youth arts ensemble founded by Guangzhou Opera House, dedicated to nurturing professional musical performance talents. Established as a dedicated delegation for international tours and exchanges, it comprises outstanding members from the Guangzhou Opera House Youth String Orchestra and the Guangzhou Opera House Youth Marching Band. Blending the delicate expressiveness of string instruments with the majestic momentum of wind and percussion, the orchestra is rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with the strategic goal of gaining prominence on the international stage. Representing the artistic vitality of the new generation, it stands as a distinguished ensemble distinguished by its professional caliber and youthful dynamism. As a youth arts group operated by a professional arts institution, the orchestra leverages the unparalleled platform advantages of Guangzhou Opera House and has staged a total of 24 special concerts to date. Among its notable achievements, the Guangzhou Opera House Youth String Orchestra made its international competition debut in July 2024, winning the highest honor, the Special Honor Gold Award, at the 10th Singapore Raffles International Youth Arts Festival. The Guangzhou Opera House Youth Marching Band claimed the top honor, the Platinum Gold Award, at the 9th Guangdong Music Invitational Competition. Additionally, the orchestra was awarded the Bronze Award in the Open Class at the 2024 Malaysia International Marching Arts Championships, earning authoritative recognition for its artistic standards. Upholding a development philosophy of mutual empowerment, the Guangzhou Opera House Youth Orchestra brings together top talents from its two flagship ensembles, striving to build a youth performing arts group with profound artistic heritage and diverse stage expressiveness. Through the harmonious integration of the melodic grace of strings and the grandeur of winds, it crafts a multi-layered artistic language. Using international platforms as its showcase, the ensemble fully presents the vibrant energy of young talents from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

Yiqin Cheng

Conductor

Yiqin Cheng is a National Class One Performer, Professor of Violin at the Affiliated Middle School of Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Deputy Director of the Orchestral Instruments Department, and Director of the Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Music Programme of the Affiliated Middle School. She also serves as Artistic Director of the Guangzhou Opera House Youth String Orchestra (GYSO) and Vice President of the Guangdong Violin Education Society. Previously, she held the position of Co-Concertmaster of the Second Violin Section and featured as a solo violinist with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, she was honored with the title of "Outstanding Musician" by the Guangdong Musicians Association. For many years, she has maintained an active profile in both performance and music education. As a soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Cheng has appeared in nearly 100 concerts with major professional symphony orchestras worldwide, collaborating with a distinguished roster of renowned musicians and conductors, including Charles Dutoit, David Stern, Lan Shui, Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others. She has performed with esteemed ensembles such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. She was invited to join the China tour of The Silk Road ensemble alongside Long Yu, Yo-Yo Ma, and Wu Tong. Renowned for her exquisite tone and highly expressive, dynamic performance style, Cheng Yiqin has earned wide acclaim from both professional critics and audiences alike.