Bidding bravo to young musicians

A typical week for musician Zhang Jin centers around rehearsing, but it also includes cycling, baking, and walking her Abyssinian cat. Joining the Tide Philharmonic Orchestra in Zhejiang province's riverside town of Yanguan, the double bass player just passed a stringent trial period and became an official member of the orchestra in July.

The 28-year-old is also a three-time alum of Youth Music Culture Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (YMCG), one of Asia's most reputable orchestral programs celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2027. Applications for musicians aged 18 to 30 for the upcoming edition in January opened on Aug 20.

"I've learned to appreciate every little moment along the journey," says Zhang, after attending three YMCG editions.

In January 2020, she auditioned for the program on a whim. Back then, she was still studying at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. "Yo-Yo Ma played my bass," she beams, recalling sharing the stage with Ma and other members from a variety of countries and regions. During the COVID lockdown, Ma gathered these musicians online to perform J. S. Bach's Air in D, the second movement in Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major. Zhang recorded the bass section from her home.