Event

Seattle Chinese Orchestra

The Seattle Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is the only traditional Chinese orchestra in the Pacific Northwest. Its mission is to advocate and promote traditional Chinese music to the Western world. SCO began as a Chinese folk music ensemble, founded by the famous musician Warren Chang, one of the most renowned Erhu experts at that time in both China and in the United States. In the summer of 1986, respected composer and conductor Zhenfen Huang joined the orchestra.

The premiere of SCO was a significant milestone in the development of Chinese music on the West Coast of the United States. Since its inception, SCO has hosted numerous concerts and dance shows with live orchestra accompaniment, helping the orchestra to become both widely accepted and applauded. As the years have gone by, the orchestra has grown professionally, recruiting more members with greater musical talent and experience. Currently, SCO has over fifty members, across four divisions: bowstringed instruments, plucked instruments, woodwind instruments, and percussion. SCO is currently lead by Music Director Mr. Warren Chang, and the conductor Mr. Roger Nelson.

The repertoire of the Seattle Chinese Orchestra is very rich and versatile, including pieces from traditional Chinese music, regional Chinese folk music, music penned by contemporary Chinese composers, classical and international music, which have been rearranged for Chinese instruments.