History of the Chiba Exchange
The MYO and its sister
orchestra in Japan, the Chiba Youth Orchestra (CYO), have been combining
their talents regularly since 1997 in joint concerts and enjoying each
other’s hospitality. In the Spring, around Cherry Blossom time, members
of the two orchestras meet either in Japan or the U.S. to renew their
friendships and share their love of music.
The first exchange
brought 22 CYO musicians to McLean in March of 1997. The idea for the
exchange was spawned during a conversation between the Director of
the Manjiro Society and a Japanese businessman on temporary assignment
in New York City whose children belonged to the CYO. An account of
the 1997 Exchange is
in the Manjiro Society Newsletter.
This first exchange
was such a sucess that it has been repeated ever since, every other
year at first and now annually. More lasting than the ephemeral music
and camraderie are the many international friendships spawned by the
brief associations. Visits have always included home stay, which intensifies
the experience for both visitors and hosts, and helps keeps the costs
low.
The MYO took 13 musicians
to Japan in 1999 and had a wonderful time, learning about Japan and
experiencing the gracious and warm hospitality for which the Japanese
are famous. One of the MYO musicians composed a medley of Japanese
and American songs that has become the theme of the exchange. Read
an account of the 1999
Exchange in the Manjiro Society Newsletter.
The first repeat of
the cycle in March 2001 brought 20 CYO musicians and the CYO Director,
Mr. Rikiya Nagano, and the Chairman of the CYO Board, Mr. Fumio Ogawa,
to McLean. One of the highlights of this exchange was the reception
at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. An account of the 2001
Exchange is in the Manjiro Society Newsletter.
An official Sister
Orchestra relationship was established during this 2001 visit. In addition
to the close friendship established through the previous exchanges
the orchestras have other similarities. Both are the same age (founded
in 1983) and each is located in a suburb of its country’s capitol city.
View the CYO/MYO Sister Orchestra agreement in either PDF
(Adobe Acrobat) or JPEG format.
March 2002 was the
first in which the exchange cycle was reduced to one year. 16 MYO musicians
and 9 adults travelled to Chiba that year. See the account of the 2002
Exchange in the Manjiro Society Newsletter.
Each of the visits
by the gracious and talented musicians from Chiba have been such a
treat that we look forward with great anticipation to the next visit
in March 2003. Nine Chiba musicians and two adults are expected to
visit McLean. Another reception is planned at the Japanese Embassy,
this time as part of the official celebration of the Cherry Blossom
Festival in the U.S. Members of the McLean Youth Orchestra are eligible
for participation in these exchanges.
The CYO-MYO exchange
program is also supported by the Manjiro
Society.