Brief Introduction of WCTO

A. Background and Mission

The Washington Chinese Traditional Orchestra (WCTO) was founded in Maryland in 1999 as a non-profit music organization for Chinese Americans in the U.S. It is the first group member of the Chinese Music Society of Greater Washington (CMSGW). Its mission is to preserve Chinese traditional music and culture, blend Eastern and Western musical elements, and perform across the Greater Washington area (including venues such as NPR, government departments, museums, churches, schools, and the Kennedy Center) and the Eastern U.S. (such as downtown Pittsburgh, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and the University of Richmond's Art Center), bridging cultural and friendship ties between China and the U.S.

B. Successive Directors

Past directors include Xu Xing, Xia Bing, Zhu Yufeng, Hou Xuezhang, Ma Xia, and Xia Quanxing. The current Music Director and Conductor is Tang Du.

C. Current Board of Directors

The current board consists of Xia Quanxing (President), Fu Guoyi (Vice President), Chen Huilan (Vice President), Hou Xuezhang, Zhu Yufeng, Jiao Yun, Lin Yuhui, Wang Decheng, Liu Jingya, and Tang Du (Music Director).

       Features, Style, and Recent Review

A. Orchestra Scale

The orchestra is composed of around 40 members, including both professional musicians and skilled amateurs. The members span various ages and ethnic backgrounds and come from different fields of society. It is a medium-sized ensemble with sections for woodwinds, strings, plucked strings, bass, and percussion, capable of performing a variety of classic and original ethnic music pieces. While primarily focused on traditional Chinese instruments, the orchestra selectively incorporates Western orchestral and percussion instruments. Besides large ensemble performances, the orchestra also participates in community events and cultural activities organized by federal, state, county, and municipal government agencies with individual or small group ensembles.

B. Repertoire and Style

1. Traditional Repertoire:

"Happy Times"  "Flower in Full Bloom and Round Moon"  "A Joyous Year"  "Beautiful Jiangnan" "Harvest Drum and Gong" "Three Sixes"  "Yao Dance" "Good News to the Border Village"  "Deep Night"  "Moonlight Reflected in the Er-quan Spring"  "A Wonderful Night"  "Galloping Horses"  "Horse Racing" "Early Spring in the Mountain Village"  "Spring Blossom"  "Bright Journey"  "Spring Waves Over the Rice Fields" "Yunnan"

2. Other Excellent Pieces:

"Chrysanthemum Terrace" "Funeral Flowers" "Film Music Medley" "The Love of Xiangfei"

3. Original Compositions, Arrangements and Adoptions:

"Harvest Night" "Spring Returns to the Earth" "The Harmony of Taihe" "Melody of the Sword" "Nine Thoughts of Qiu'er" "Spring Words" "Wild Goose" "Jasmine Flower"  "Spring Breeze" "Spring Color of Hometown" "Spring River Flower Moon Night" "Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk" "Joyful Wind Chimes" "World Village"

    "Praise of Pear Flowers" "Great Journey to the West"