SEATTLE CHINESE ORCHESTRA
The Seattle Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is the only traditional Chinese Orchestra in the Pacific Northwest. Its mission is to advocate and promote traditional Chinese music to the Western world. The forefather of the SCO was a Chinese folk music ensemble, founded by the famous musician Warren Chang, who was already nationally renowned in China and in the United States at the time. In the summer of 1986, respected composer and conductor Mr. Zhenfen Huang, joined the group after he had arrived just a little over a year earlier in Seattle. In 2008 esteemed Cellist and Teacher Mr. Zhenlun Li joined orchestra and became the orchestra Consultant and Adviser.
The premiere of SCO was a big milestone in Chinese music development in the West Coast of the United States. Since its inception, SCO has hosted numerous concerts and dance shows with live orchestra accompaniment and has been widely accepted and applauded. As the years have gone by, the orchestra has grown to become more professionally, having more members with greater musical talent and experience. Currently, SCO has over fifty members, and are under four divisions: Bow-stringed instruments, Plucked instruments, Woodwind instruments and percussion. SCO is currently lead by Music Director Mr. Warren Chang, and the conductor Mr. Roger Nelson.
The repertoire of the Seattle Chinese Orchestra is very rich and versatile, including pieces from traditional Chinese music, Chinese regional and folk music, and some music by contemporary Chinese composers like Mr. Zhenfen Huang, as well as numerous classical music and music from other part of the world arranged by Mr. Zhenlun Li.
The Seattle Chinese Orchestra includes not only Chinese musicians but also American musicians who are lovers of Chinese culture and well-versed in Chinese music as well. Please find out more information regarding CAMA and SCO at www.uschinamusic.org
