President John Fry and a Drexel University delegation just returned from China, where they joined a tour of the country by The Philadelphia Orchestra and met with leaders to create and strengthen connections with several higher-education institutions there. The trip included the announcement of a historic four-way partnership with Nankai University and the Tianjin Museum of National History, as well as visits to strengthen Drexel’s bonds with the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) and the newly established ShanghaiTech.

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The delegation joined on the China trip because Drexel is the education partner for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Tour of Asia and China Residency. Members of the Drexel community in China, including incoming students and their families, were able to experience performances by the world-renowned orchestra firsthand. The program marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

Beginning May 21 and closing June 6, the tour covers major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Shenzhen, where the orchestra is presenting works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler, along with a special performance of “Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women,” by Chinese composer Tan Dun. In addition to the mainland cities, the orchestra also makes a return trip to Macao for the second consecutive year before continuing on to concerts in Tokyo, Japan. The Orchestra concludes its 2014 Tour of Asia with a concert in Taipei, Taiwan.