Building Friends in China Through The Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         Contact: Edward Pio, CEO
                           (800) 347-6136
   Dave Brockmann (831) 423-8663
CASTROVILLE, CA (July 17, 2000) – The dates are set for high school marching bands, adult musicians, 100-voice barbershop chorus and a mixed barbershop quartet to experience an opportunity of a lifetime in China through the arts.
Four history-making Communications through the Arts" programs spearheaded by the Global Music Exchange were introduced at North Monterey County High School, one of the high schools invited to participate in the first-ever high school band competition in China.
The Vice Governor of Hebei Province Ms.Yan Quain is opening her countrys cultural and diplomatic doors to musicians of all ages from the United States in 2001. We are excited about taking four different groups to China and were doing so at their invitation," said Edward Pio, CEO of Global Music Exchange. Hebei Province is located in the Great North China Plain by the Bohai Sea and has a population of 66 million.
The 2001 programs are:
·   March 16-26: American Youth in China Invitational High School Band Competition and Tour. Global Music Exchange will select two to five high school and concert marching bands with a maximum of 800 for the competition and tour.
·   Aug. 26-Sept. 11: Community Band of America tour. Adult semi-professional and amateur musicians from across the country will perform under the direction of Col. John R. Bourgeois, former conductor of the U.S. Marine Band The Presidents Own" in Washington, D.C. and White House Music Director for 17 years.
·   Oct. 28-Nov. 13: Barbershop Chorus of America tour will include 100 voice mixed chorus under the direction of Ken Hatton, one of Americas foremost Barbershop Chorus directors.
·   Nov. 2000, Jan. and June 2001: Present and teach Barbershop 4-part harmony to existing Chinese choirs in Hebei Province. Plans are for the first mixed (two women, two men) Barbershop quarter to visit China in November. Quartets will travel to China in January and June 2001 to provide more instruction.
The Global Music Exchange programs have been met with keen enthusiasm and support. This will be one of the greatest experiences for anyone in Monterey County," U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, said to North Monterey County High School band members and their parents. This is a first, you will go down in history and you will be ambassadors for our country."
Pio announced that Global Music Exchange is establishing a corporate sponsorship program. Fifty of the nations Fortune 500 corporations will be contacted to solicit their financial support for the four Communications through the Arts" programs. We are looking for eight corporate sponsors and the sponsorship money will be used to subsidize the high school band students and chaperones as well as for expenses of extending and teaching Barbershop Harmony in China," he added.
The Global Music Exchange, located in Salinas, CA, was established in 1999 for the purpose of establishing a cultural program through the arts with China and its people.
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