Bounce Strings Festival transforms soloists into ensemble musicians

He deliberately calls his program one for "young performers", rather than "young soloists".

"Being a soloist can be lonely and too focused on competition," Liu says. "It is wonderful to become a performer who can collaborate, express emotions, empathize with others and love music."

That philosophy also determines the festival's noncompetitive character. There are no rankings or eliminations, and participants range from beginners to experienced young musicians and adult amateurs. Liu wants children who may not normally have access to major stages to experience the joy of playing with an orchestra.

Instead of hiring a commercial orchestra, the festival has its teachers perform the accompanying parts. The teaching team includes nearly 30 overseas-trained Chinese scholars with experience in solo performance, chamber music and education. Liu says the arrangement benefits both students and teachers: students receive highly attentive accompaniment, while teachers gain a deeper understanding of orchestral interaction that can feed back into their everyday teaching.

"The ultimate purpose of string education is not simply to give students excellent technique," Liu says. "It is to make them more sensitive, more emotionally perceptive, more resilient and more complete through music."