2023
About the Program
Want to delve into the stories behind Chinese orchestral music?
Curious about how Taiwanese Chinese music has developed its unique identity?
The National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO) will personally share their journey, from its establishment to the present, and how they have incorporated Taiwan’s diverse cultural elements through innovative approaches. They have created a distinctive style of Chinese orchestral music that not only belongs to Taiwan but also tells the beautiful stories of Taiwan through music. In addition, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan will introduce the four major instrument families of Chinese orchestras—bowed strings, plucked strings, winds, and percussion—and explain their individual characteristics and roles. Through lively demonstrations by the members, we will gain a deeper understanding of the diverse sound palette of Chinese orchestral music.
Challenge your traditional perceptions of Chinese orchestral music and let the musicians of the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan immerse us in a vibrant world of enchanting melodies.
Administered by the National Center for Traditional Arts, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO) is the national-level Chinese orchestra under the Ministry of Culture. NCO is dedicated to preserving tradition, while also embracing contemporary Taiwanese culture. In recent years, the NCO has strived to use traditional music to recount the best stories Taiwan has to offer, selecting local material and talent that can connect Taiwan with the rest of the world through music. The NCO incorporates a variety of other elements into its performances, including drama, dance, painting, poetry, and literature, giving their work a style that blends the innovative with the traditional. Their ultimate aim is to build a brand of orchestral music unique to Taiwan, providing prominence to both traditional and contemporary Taiwanese music on the international stage, for all to enjoy.
From the Curating Team
How have migration, war, and conflict impacted culture and social values of today? This year at TAIWANfest, we dive into the significance of Taipei's National Palace Museum, Taiwanese diaspora during the Japansese colonial period, recovery of Indigenous culture, and other Taiwanese history. Through this, we examine identity, social values, and contemporary challenges, fostering international dialogue and respect for cultural diversity.
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Performance / Vendor / Sponsorship Opportunities
TAIWANfest Toronto is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, that is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.