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Unity Through Music: Youth Orchestral Celebration of Railroad Workers at the California State Railroad Museum

  • 10:00 am
  • Event Recap
An overhead view from behind of an audience of around 75 people seated in folding chairs, facing an orchestra of students dressed in red. The room is framed by full-size train engines and cars in a museum gallery.
Students from the Great Wall Youth Orchestra enthralled audience members with their multi-cultural songs celebrating railroad workers. Photo by Kelly B. Huston.

Around 100 people gathered at the CA State Railroad Museum on April 27th to hear the Great Wall Youth Orchestra perform a Unity Through Music concert featuring music from the diverse cultures of workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad. Students ranging from elementary to high school age performed songs from parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America on traditional Chinese instruments, honoring those who helped build and work the railroads of California and uniting all of these traditions through music.

The music filled the Museum, and visitors just passing by stopped to listen; some were seen  dancing to the music. Between the two performances, visitors of all ages engaged with the student performers and walked closer to see the instruments. The event was an excellent opportunity for young children to experience a live musical performance of this scale in a kid-friendly environment, and the audience included many children.

When the audience was asked if this was their first time hearing a full Chinese orchestra, over half the audience raised their hands. General feedback from Museum visitors was positive, and many expressed interest in more multi-sensory or musical events at the Museum. One visitor shared that he loved the event and that he could hear music throughout the Museum.

Prior to the event, the Museum led the student musicians on an up-close special tour featuring Chinese railroad worker collection items not normally viewed by the public. Students were engaged and loved being able to interact with guests after the performance.

A conductor gestures to an orchestra of youth, many of whom are wearing shiny red traditional silk tops with black or gold embroidery and short collars. In the background are audience members and a full-size train engine and car as part of an indoor museum exhibit.
Students from the Great Wall Youth Orchestra enthralled audience members with their multi-cultural songs celebrating railroad workers. Photo by Kelly B. Huston.
A close-up of two youth musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments and looking intently at sheet music on a stand. The instrument is an erhu - two strings on a long neck attached to a small round body that is hidden by their arms. It is played with a bow while held upright in the lap. The young person in front has their long black hair in a bun and is wearing a red silk shirt; a youth with glasses is behind wearing a maroon silk shirt with gold embroidery on the front. Other players in the background are dressed similarly.
Students from the Great Wall Youth Orchestra enthralled audience members with their multi-cultural songs celebrating railroad workers. Photo by Kelly B. Huston.
Three youth orchestra members sit with their backs facing the camera, wearing black silk shirts with red flowers. They are grouped around several percussion instruments. In front of them is the rest of the youth orchestra, mostly wearing red silk shirts with black embroidery, with a conductor standing and gesturing. In the background, a seated audience watches. The high-ceilinged museum room is ringed with full-size train cars.
Students from the Great Wall Youth Orchestra enthralled audience members with their multi-cultural songs celebrating railroad workers. Photo by Kelly B. Huston.
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