Free concert June 18 will be preview of China tour

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, Canyon Crest Academy students are headed to China this summer.

Led by Music Director Jeff Edmons, 80 young musicians will travel overseas, including eight students from CCA: Daniel Sun, Maggie Chen, Kevin Lin, Christine Kwon, Tracy Chin, Rachel Gerstenfeld, Bryan Kaleta and Victor Wu.

Presented by Qualcomm Incorporated, the China tour runs June 23 through July 5.

Before the trip, the orchestra will preview its repertoire with a Bon Voyage Concert June 18. The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park.

“The China Tour is a very special and historic tour for the Youth Symphony, which will celebrate our history of outstanding music education and will enable our musicians to share their artistic talents with families and audiences from China in Beijing, our sister city Yantai, and Shanghai,” said Edmons, who is also celebrating his 20th year leading the Youth Symphony.

“The tour to China represents a special opportunity for the musicians to share their holistic achievement with an international audience and to connect across nations in friendship through the common bond of music.”

Approximately 30 of the musicians and families who are participating on the tour live in the Carmel Valley and coastal San Diego areas, Edmons said. These students, with all of the musicians in the orchestra, come together weekly in Balboa Park to study and learn at the highest levels in San Diego Youth Symphony’s Ovation Program.