Historic youth cultural exchange brings together internationally acclaimed ensembles for performances, education, and cultural diplomacy across New York City

Two of the world’s most acclaimed youth choirs are coming together in New York City this October to demonstrate the power of music to create connection and understanding across cultures in the midst of renewed dialogue between the United States and China. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) will welcome 45 singers from China’s Guangdong Experimental Choir for the next chapter of a China-U.S. youth choir exchange that has grown from a virtual collaboration for International Peace Day in 2023 and YPC’s visit to Guangdong Province in 2024 to the Guangdong singers’ visit to New York City for the first time. From October 1-9, the young artists will engage in joint performances at Lincoln Center, rehearsals at public schools, educational exchanges at the Chinese Consulate, and cultural experiences throughout the city.

The relationship between the two choirs stretches back more than 20 years. YPC Founder and Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez and Guangdong conductor Xie Mingjing first met while representing their countries at the World Choral Symposium in Japan in 2005. In the years that followed, their award-winning ensembles crossed paths as competitors at international choral events around the world.

“What began through competition has grown into a friendship rooted in mutual respect and a shared belief in music’s ability to bring young people together across cultures,” said Núñez. “Our choristers and their peers from Guangdong may come from different cultures, but when they sing together, they understand one another. They listen, they learn, they share their curiosity and hopes of the future, and they build relationships that last far beyond a single performance. That kind of human connection is where real understanding begins.”

The visit takes on added significance as Guangdong Experimental High School celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, with the New York exchange serving as a major international component of its centennial year.

Part of the World Bay Area Choral Dialogue, an ongoing cultural and artistic initiative connecting the two choirs, the exchange is presented through the YPC Tandon Global Collab. The Tandon Global Collab is YPC’s international initiative using music, education, and cultural exchange to connect young people from around the world, foster dialogue and mutual understanding, and build lasting relationships across cultures. Future exchanges are planned for India and Japan.

"It is an honor to support YPC in this extraordinarily important mission of bringing voices together joined in song, across oceans, boundaries, and languages . . . the true power of music," said Grammy Award-winning artist, humanitarian, and YPC Artist in Residence Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, whose generous donation funds the program.

Activities during the visit will be organized in partnership with Lincoln Center, Yale University, Princeton University, and members of New York City’s musical community.

On September 30, Councilmember Gale A. Brewer will welcome the visiting singers to New York City and present a New York City Council Citation recognizing the cultural exchange. Throughout the week, the choirs will perform in a series of joint performances and special events throughout the city.

Song Bridge at Lincoln Center
Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Josie Robertson Plaza, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City
Free and open to the public

The week will open with a Mid-Autumn celebration performance featuring the Young People’s Chorus of New York City and the Guangdong Experimental Choir. Led by Francisco J. Núñez and Xie Mingjing, the combined ensembles will share an afternoon of song that crosses language, culture, and continents.

Performance at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York
Private event

YPC and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York will co-host a special reception and joint performance celebrating youth cultural exchange and the role of music in fostering international understanding. The event will bring together student musicians, educators, government and diplomatic leaders, members of New York’s cultural and business organizations, and other invited guests.

Information for the Lincoln Center performance is available through Lincoln Center’s event page at https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/lincoln-center-presents/song-bridge-20. YPC will announce additional details about the New York visit as they become available.

Bringing international exchange of this scope to life requires significant resources and YPC welcomes support from individuals and organizations who want to help make these transformative experiences possible for young people. Donations can be made at ypc.org/donate.

About Young People’s Chorus of New York City

YPC is an internationally acclaimed choral ensemble, praised for its virtuosity and brilliant sound by The New York Times. The nonprofit organization uplifts over 2,000 young people annually, representing every neighborhood of New York City and empowering children of all backgrounds with a unique program of music education and choral performance that unlocks pathways to success through the arts.

Learn more about YPC at www.ypc.org and follow along via Instagram @ypcofnyc.

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“Our choristers and their peers from Guangdong may come from different cultures, but when they sing together, they understand one another.”