Cornell Glee Club and Chorus China Tour
Letter from David J. Skorton
11-28-07
It is a special privilege to send greetings to the people of China on behalf of Cornell University as the Cornell Glee Club and Chorus, under the direction of Professor Scott Tucker, prepares for its March 2008 concert tour to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Having recently visited China for the first time as Cornell's president, I have a firsthand appreciation of the warmth of the Chinese people, the enthusiasm of Cornell's alumni in China, and the strong and expanding partnerships that are developing between Cornell and some of China's most distinguished universities.
Cornell's relationship to China goes back to the late 19th century, when students from China began to enroll at Cornell in significant numbers, frequently to study agriculture, engineering and other fields. Perhaps the best known of Cornell's early graduates from China was Hu Shih, who earned his degree in philosophy in 1914 and went on to become a leader of the Chinese literary renaissance.
International exchange remains an important means of building human and institutional capacity and strengthening the connections among the world's peoples. Last year, Cornell welcomed more than 400 students from China to our Ithaca campus, and we are delighted that productive exchanges of students and scholars are occurring in both directions.
Music can be an especially effective way to bridge cultures and bring individuals of different backgrounds together. I am delighted that the Cornell Glee Club and Chorus, on its first Asia tour since 1989, is celebrating Eastern and Western musical traditions in its repertoire and presenting, for the first time, a new work created collaboratively by the distinguished Chinese composer Chen Yi and award-winning Cornell composer Steven Stucky. I know I speak for the Cornell Glee Club and Chorus in expressing gratitude to all, in China and in the U.S., who have helped make this 2008 concert tour possible.
Best regards,
David J. Skorton
President
