On the evening of June 21 2023, the symphonic music song and dance poem “Zen Rhythm and Buddhist Realm” performance was held in the United States in Los Angeles, and was warmly welcomed by a large audience. This was part of the global tour of the Jinghui Guangxuan Symphony Orchestra, which held two consecutive performances on the 20th and 21st at the nearly 100-year-old San Gabriel Theater in Los Angeles County, California.
The San Gabriel Theater, which can accommodate more than 1,000 spectators, was filled to capacity with applause. Conducted by Abbot Shi Wule, the monks of the Jinghui Guangxuani Symphony Orchestra performed classical pieces such as the symphony “Ode to the People,” “The Girl of Alet” and “The White-haired Girl,” as well as dances such as “The Mighty Etiquette of the Buddhist Sect,” “Blessing the Goddess of Mercy,” “The Dance of Blessing,” and “The Return of the Madonna,” which was performed by the chorus of “The Return of the Madonna,” among other pieces. A number of Chinese artists from the United States were also invited to perform the string trio “Horse Racing” with erhu, violin and cello.
“We come for the friendship of our people and for world peace. We are a Zen team, a team that serves world peace by publicizing the truth, goodness and beauty of traditional Eastern culture.” said a member of the orchestra to the press.
The orchestra members originally have zero foundation in music, after becoming monks, they learned music in the monastery. Their performance is a meditation and a music dharma meeting.
The event was hosted by the World Buddhist Association for Peace and the Zen Cultural Center of America, and co-organized by the Hubei Fellowship Association of Southern California and the Beijing Friendship Association of Southern California. Zhang Sujiu, president of the World Buddhist Peace Promotion Association and a famous American overseas Chinese leader, and other representatives of the Southern California overseas Chinese community held a welcoming event for the first all-monk symphony orchestra in the history of Chinese Buddhism to visit Los Angeles. Zhang Sujiu said that the Zen Orchestra has traveled thousands of miles to the United States to embark on a tour to promote Buddhism and culture through music, which is particularly touching.
(The original article can be found here.)