Differences celebrated in music union

Young musicians from south African and Chinese schools hit the right note together

They don't play from the same score or the same instruments, or speak the same language, but - vive la difference - it looks like it will be a strong and fulfilling musical marriage.

The sister school relationship between Durban Music School in South Africa and the Guangzhou Tieyi Middle School in the capital city of southern China's Guangdong province has only just begun.

Their "engagement ceremony" in Guangzhou and a concert in Beijing this month featuring the Durban school's touring KwaZula-Natal Youth Wind Band marked the start of China's Year of South Africa.

"We have come to China to share music with the people of China and to show what our African music is like and experience what Chinese music is like," says trumpet player Graham Bishai, who is in the band with his brother Trevor on trombone. "It's a different kind of music you find here, but I found it very interesting and enjoyable."

French horn player Sihle Sithole was particularly taken by Chinese food and drink.

"I didn't know much concerning tea. And the food is so different. I'm curious and would like to learn about China's history and visit more places."

The musical journey was somewhat of a family affair for the Bishais, who moved to South Africa from the United States two and a half years ago, for although their two sisters are studying at university in the US, their mother Martha tagged along as chaperone on the tour.

She visited China 30 years ago after finishing university - "I came to see this part of the world and learn Chinese and experience a different culture" - and now, just as her children are amazed by the musical and cultural differences, so she is amazed by the changes in the country's development.

"I'm just so impressed with all the growth and the energy here," she says. "Everybody is thinking about the future and building things to make a better life for everyone. Everything seems very efficient. So many things are modern, but China has such a rich and deep culture that goes back thousands of years. You can feel both."

Martha hopes that through the tour Graham and Trevor can "expand their horizons by seeing another part of the world that is so different to what they are used to, and gain a new appreciation of another culture, both in how it is different and how much it is the same".

She aims to fish out her old books and material from her first visit to give to them.

"I have told them stories throughout the years. I think now they will have greater desire to learn more now because they have been here themselves."

On the tour to Guangzhou and Beijing, the South African youth band played with and listened to the Chinese school's musical students.

"I'm very impressed by all Chinese instruments," says Russell Scott, the band's conductor. "They're very new to us. Our players get to learn about a different kind of music, and we are equally excited teaching them about our South African music.

"We are trying to travel as much as we can to expose as many as people of the world outside Africa to South African music, and at the same time learn as much as we can about other cultures and their music."

The Bishai boys played in the band when Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan visited their school in March last year, during President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Africa his participation to the fifth summit of BRICS countries in the southern city.

Durban Music School is a non-profit organization, and many of its students are orphans, have a disability or come from poor families.

Guangzhou and Durban became sister cities in 2000. Guangzhou Tieyi Middle School and Durban Music School first encountered each other at an international music festival in Vienna in 2009, during which the bands of both schools won awards.

When it encountered financial difficulty in 2011, the Durban school received 500,000 rand ($46,600; 34,200 euros) from Li Jingmin, chairman of Durban-Guangzhou Sister Cities Association and general manager of E Home Media.

Zhang Qiqi, who plays flute and piccolo in the Tieyi school band, praised KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band as very professional.

"They love music very much. They are full of passion, and these musical exchanges inspire us too," Zhang says.

liwenfang@chinadaily.com.cn