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°Ä6ͼ¿â Institute of Music faculty who are also members of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra (TCO) recently returned from a successful TCO tour of Asia. During the trip, the faculty also generously gave their time and expertise by holding several master classes in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. °Ä6ͼ¿â is accomplishing its mission to empower the world’s most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential through several initiatives, including strengthening relationships with current partners in China – and develop new ones, too. That includes showcasing many of °Ä6ͼ¿â’s world-class faculty during TCO’s first appearance in Asia in 21 years.

°Ä6ͼ¿â faculty members and President Paul Hogle shared their photos and reflections on the trip.

°Ä6ͼ¿â in Shenzhen

Yasuhito Sugiyama (right), head of °Ä6ͼ¿â’s tuba department and principal tuba of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, works with students during his master class at Shenzhen Arts School on April 3. Sugiyama and five other °Ä6ͼ¿â faculty held master classes at the school that day.

Stanley Konopka, °Ä6ͼ¿â viola faculty and assistant principal viola of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, is all smiles as he works with two students during his master class at Shenzhen Arts School.

After a productive day of master classes, °Ä6ͼ¿â faculty and President Paul Hogle pose for a photo with Shenzhen Arts School students and faculty. The school’s president, Qicheng Huang, is standing to President Hogle’s immediate left. °Ä6ͼ¿â and Shenzhen Arts School have been working together during the last few years to provide visiting master classes, distance learning programs, admissions candidates and cultural exchanges.

Following a long day of performances and master classes in Shenzhen, °Ä6ͼ¿â faculty Richard Weiss (middle), co-head of °Ä6ͼ¿â's cello department and first assistant principal cello of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, and Mark Kosower (far right), °Ä6ͼ¿â cello faculty and principal cello of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, along with President Paul Hogle were treated to dinner by the parents of alumna and cellist Fange Lisa Zhang (BM ’18, Kraut, third from left).

°Ä6ͼ¿â in Shanghai

Richard Weiss and his cello students for the day take a breather after his master class at the Shanghai Conservatory.

President Hogle and Scott Dixon, head of °Ä6ͼ¿â's strings division and double bass department and member of the bass section of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, held high level talks on the future of classical music with the leadership of the Shanghai Symphony Academy. Pictured with Hogle and Dixon is Fedina Zhou, director of the Shanghai Seven Academy. °Ä6ͼ¿â faculty held private lessons and master classes at both the Academy and the preschool associated with the Shanghai Conservatory.

Cellist Mark Kosower works with a student cellist at the Shanghai Conservatory, guiding her through a process of improving all aspects of performance.

°Ä6ͼ¿â in Beijing

Mark Jackobs, °Ä6ͼ¿â viola faculty and member of the viola section of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, pauses to have a photo taken with students from his master class at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing on April 12.

Mary Kay Fink (center, back row), co-head of °Ä6ͼ¿â's woodwinds, brass and percussion division, flute and piccolo faculty and member of the flute section of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra, taught a very large master class at the China Conservatory of Music on April 12.

So long, China! °Ä6ͼ¿â faculty who are also members of The °Ä6ͼ¿â Orchestra have one last photo taken with their hosts and colleagues from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing before returning to Northeast Ohio. °Ä6ͼ¿â enjoys remarkable partnerships with several conservatories in China and continues to forge new relationships.

°Ä6ͼ¿â faculty who gave their time leading master classes at Shenzhen Arts School, Shanghai Orchestra Academy and the China Conservatory:

• Scott Dixon (double bass)
• Mary Kay Fink (flute)
• Mark Jackobs (viola)
• Stanley Konopka (viola)
• Mark Kosower (cello)
• Lynne Ramsey (viola)
• Stephen Rose (violin)
• Frank Rosenwein (oboe)
• Yasuhito Sugiyama (tuba)
• Carolyn Warner (piano trio/piano-violin sonata)
• Richard Weiss (cello)