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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2014
Contact: Katherine E. Johnson
(212) 875-5718; [email protected]
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC FORMS INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD TO
SUPPORT GLOBAL ACADEMY AND WORLDWIDE ACTIVITIES
The New York Philharmonic has established an International Advisory Board (IAB) to develop
relationships beyond the United States in order to support the Philharmonic’s activities abroad,
including regular Philharmonic residencies, educational and entrepreneurial projects, and the
launch of the newly formed New York Philharmonic Global Academy. The International
Advisory Board will serve as an international network of advocates and ambassadors who will
connect with individuals and institutions in their home cities and countries to cultivate the
Philharmonic’s long-term reach and influence worldwide. IAB members will work with the
Philharmonic to secure engagements, activities, and funding sources in a variety of international
locations.
The 12-member International Advisory Board includes:
 Angela Chen, Co-Chair (U.S. and China)
 Christian A. Lange, Co-Chair (U.S. and Germany)
 Antonio Quintella, Co-Chair (U.S. and Brazil)
 Charles C.Y. Chen (Taiwan)
 Mitsuhiko Kawai (Japan)
 Federico R. Lopez (Philippines)
 Pedro Pullen Parente (Brazil)
 Washington SyCip (Philippines)
 Ming-Hsing (Richard) Tsai (Taiwan)
 Susanne Wamsler (Germany)
 Chaoyong Wang (China)
 Long Yu (Honorary Member, China)
“The New York Philharmonic has a rich tradition of touring that has led to its acclaim both as a
force for cultural diplomacy and as one of the world’s most brilliant orchestras,” said
Philharmonic Chairman Gary W. Parr. “The Board of Directors is committed to creating an even
deeper and more immersive presence in important cities around the world, which we could not
do without the insight and counsel of the members of this remarkable group of international
individuals. They will be crucial to developing a 21st-century model for the Philharmonic’s
global presence and impact, in pursuit of the organization’s artistic, educational, and economic
goals.”
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“The New York Philharmonic is committed to reimagining our international activities to foster a
more meaningful impact as a performing organization and an educational resource,” said
Philharmonic President and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien. “The establishment of the
International Advisory Board will be a powerful force in making that possible. This group will
enable us to seek additional cultural partnerships and funding sources to support activities such
as the Global Academy. I am grateful to the men and women who have graciously agreed to
offer their time, wisdom, and international business and artistic connections to enrich the life and
contributions of the Orchestra.”
The New York Philharmonic has launched the New York Philharmonic Global Academy, a
series of long-term, immersive partnerships with select cultural and music education institutions
in New York, the United States, and worldwide. Building on its renowned history of
international touring and cultural diplomacy, as well as its longstanding commitment to
education, the Philharmonic is collaborating with partners to offer intensive training of preprofessional musicians by Philharmonic members, often alongside regular performance
residencies by the full Orchestra.
The Global Academy will expand to include additional partners, joining two previously
announced partnerships that are currently underway — the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and
Residency Partnership, a collaboration with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which was
inaugurated with the opening of the Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA) in September 2014,
and Music Academy of the West, the first American Global Academy partnership, which began
in July 2014. The Philharmonic has also created Philharmonic Academy Jr., which provides
training for pre-college students by Philharmonic musicians in partnership with institutions in the
New York City area. Further Global Academy projects, involving collaborations with several
additional domestic and international partners, will be announced in the coming year.
The New York Philharmonic’s century-long international tradition has brought the Orchestra to
432 cities in 63 countries on five continents. Music Director Alan Gilbert led the Orchestra in
debut performances in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi in 2009. In February 2008 the musicians, led by
then Music Director Lorin Maazel, gave a historic performance in Pyongyang, Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea — the first visit there by an American orchestra and an event that
was watched around the world, and for which the Philharmonic received the 2008 Common
Ground Award for Cultural Diplomacy. Other historic tours have included the 1930 tour to
Europe, the first European tour with Toscanini; the first tour of South America and Latin
America, in 1958; the first tour to the USSR, in 1959 with Leonard Bernstein; the 1984 Asia
Tour, including the first tour of India with Zubin Mehta; the 1998 Asia Tour, with the first
performances in mainland China with Kurt Masur; and the 75th Anniversary European Tour in
2005 with Lorin Maazel. In 2012 the Orchestra became an International Associate of London’s
Barbican Centre, with an extended residency comprising four concerts, including a London
edition of the Young People’s Concerts. The Philharmonic will return there in the spring of
2015.
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New York Philharmonic International Advisory Board Co-Chairs
Angela Chen (elected to the New York Philharmonic Board in 2013) is the president and
founder of China Arts Foundation International, a non-profit private foundation based in New
York City dedicated to promoting the U.S./China relationship. Ms. Chen is also the founder and
managing director of Global Alliance, a boutique business relationship consultancy for U.S.
companies seeking to establish a presence in mainland China. She has held senior positions with
the world’s largest financial institutions and has assisted them in establishing a presence in
China. As vice president at Prudential Insurance, Ms. Chen established the Group’s International
Private Banking Group in China and developed and managed its high net worth private client
base. Previously, she was instrumental in establishing the China Futures Trading Desk for
Merrill Lynch; as president of the International Division, she oversaw the trading desk, which
generated annual trading volumes of more than $500 million. She also acted as relationship
manager for large private and investment banking portfolios. In her professional career, Angela
Chen has established and strengthened an extensive network of proprietary personal and
professional relationships throughout Asia. She was educated in China and attended the
Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is a board member of the
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and is an active member of the Asia Society in New
York City.
Christian A. Lange (elected to the New York Philharmonic Board in 2012), a native of
Germany, is president of EII Capital Management, Inc. (EII Capital), the company he cofounded in 1983. He is chief investment officer of EII Capital’s direct real estate, real estate
securities, and general portfolio investment activities. He is also responsible for providing
investment advisory services to European-based families. From 1976 to 1983 he was a managing
director of Friedrich Flick Industrieverwaltung KgaA, Dusseldorf, with responsibilities for
international securities portfolios, real estate investments, and major direct industrial
investments. Between 1968 and 1974 Mr. Lange served as vice president of Goldman Sachs AG
in Zurich, where he was instrumental in forming the firm’s first European office. He and his
wife, Heidi, maintain homes in New York and in Klosters, Switzerland.
Antonio Quintella (a member of the New York Philharmonic Board from 2011 to 2014) is cofounder and chief executive officer of Peninsula Investimentos, a Brazilian investment
management firm. He was chairman of Credit Suisse Hedging Griffo, a wholly owned Brazilian
subsidiary of Credit Suisse Group (June 2012–June 2014) after serving as chief executive officer
of Credit Suisse’s Americas Region and a member of the Firm’s Executive Board (July 2010–
May 2012). Mr. Quintella joined Credit Suisse in 1997 from ING Barings as a senior relationship
banker in the Investment Banking department and was named chief executive officer of Credit
Suisse’s Brazil operations in 2003, in which capacity he oversaw the expansion of the Bank’s
presence in that market, including the 2006 acquisition of Hedging-Griffo, a leading independent
asset management and private banking firm in Brazil. Mr. Quintella is a member of the Global
Advisory Council of the London Business School; a director of São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
(OSESP); a director of the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP); and a director of Cyrella
Commercial Properties, a Brazilian listed real estate company. A Brazilian citizen, Antonio
Quintella holds a BA in economics from Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro and
MBA from the London Business School.
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New York Philharmonic International Advisory Board Members
Based in Taiwan, Charles C.Y. Chen has extensive experience in the technology, financial
services, insurance, and transportation management sectors. He is currently chairman of Eyon
Holding Group, a private holding entity that is the leading shareholder of Wan Hai Lines, Epistar
Corporation, and Shih Lin Paper. He is vice-chairman of Taiwan Air Cargo Terminal
Corporation and Taian Insurance Co., Ltd. and a board member of China Airlines and Regent
Hotel Group, in addition to many other local and foreign directorships. Mr. Chen was chairman
of the UTAC Group (2000–07), ranked the world’s fifth largest back-end services provider of
semiconductors in 2006. He was also chairman of Epistar Corporation (2005–07), a worldleading LED chip manufacturing company. Mr. Chen is co-president of Chen Yung Memorial
Foundation in Taiwan and sits on the boards of a number of other non-profit organizations,
including Children Liver Foundation, Taiwan Cancer Foundation, Formosa Cancer Foundation,
and Taiwan Orthopedic Sports Medicine Research Foundation. He is vice chairman of Society
Entrepreneur Ecology (SEE), the first non-government sponsored environmental NGO in China,
and board director of Pacific Council, a U.S. West Coast based think tank. Mr. Chen was the
chapter chairman of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Taipei Chapter (2006–07) and
Board Member of YPO North Asia Region (2006–08). He received his MBA from New York
University in 1991 and bachelor of economics from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan in
1985, and received Fu-Jen University’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2004.
Mitsuhiko Kawai (a member of the New York Philharmonic Board from 2011 to 2014) became
president and chief executive officer of Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. (Mitsui USA) in April 2011
and served concurrently as an executive managing officer and chief operating officer of the
Americas Business Unit of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Mitsui USA’s parent company in Japan, until
March 2014. A graduate of Keio University, Japan, who earned a BA in economics, Mr. Kawai
joined Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in 1976 and has since built a career primarily in the company’s energy
and financial business area, which involves global trade and investment activities. He was
previously Mitsui & Co.’s managing officer and the chief operating officer of its Financial
Markets Business Unit. Prior to his post as president and chief executive officer of Mitui USA,
Mr. Kawai served in overseas posts three times: in Houston and New York offices of Mitsui
USA (1981–90); Melbourne, Australia, with Japan Australia LNG (MIMI), Pty., Ltd. (1996–
2000); and London, U.K., as deputy managing director of Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc. and
managing director of Mitsui & Co., UK plc. (2006–08). In New York he served on the Board of
the Japan Society.
Federico R. Lopez is chairman and chief executive officer of First Philippine Holdings
Corporation (FPH), a major conglomerate public-listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange with
interests in energy, real estate, construction, and manufacturing. He is chairman and chief
executive officer of First Gen Corporation and Energy Development Corporation, two premier
power generation companies at the forefront of clean and renewable energy development. He is
vice chairman of Rockwell Land Corporation, one of the prime real estate development
companies in the Philippines. He is a member of the board of directors of ABS-CBN
Corporation, the country’s leading media and entertainment organization. An advocate of the
environment, Mr. Lopez is chairman of the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change
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New York Philharmonic Forms International Advisory Board / 5
Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation and the Sikat Solar Challenge
Foundation. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Philippine Tropical Forest
Conservation Foundation, World Wildlife Fund Philippines, and the Philippine Disaster
Recovery Foundation. Mr. Lopez is president of Ang Misyon, a foundation committed to igniting
social change and youth development through the pursuit of excellence in classical music. This
advocacy has led to the formation of the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (in July 2012),
composed of some 55 young musicians handpicked from various ensembles throughout the
Philippines.
Pedro Pullen Parente was elected chairman of BM&F BOVESPA S.A., a stock exchange based
in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2013. He was president and chief executive officer of Bunge Brazil, one
of the country’s largest agricultural exporters, from 2010 to 2014, after serving as chief executive
officer of Grupo RBS — a leading Brazilian multimedia company that owns several TV stations,
newspapers, and radio stations — from 2003 to 2009. Prior to joining RBS, Mr. Parente held
high-level posts in Brazil’s public sector, including chief of staff to the Brazilian President
(1999–2002) and minister of planning and deputy minister of finance (1995–99). He has also
served as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund and has worked at the Brazilian
Central Bank and at Banco do Brasil; in a number of other positions in the Ministry of Finance
and Ministry of Planning; and as chairman of the board of Petrobras and Banco do Brasil. Mr.
Parente earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Brasilia in 1976 and is a
fellow at the George Washington University Center of Latin American Studies. In 2006 he was
named Financial Officer of the Year by the Brazilian Institute of Financial Executives–RS
Section.
Washington SyCip is the founder of the SGV Group, a leading firm of auditors and
management consultants. He is one the founders and chairman emeritus of the Asian Institute of
Management, and serves on the Board of Overseers of Columbia Business School, the Council
on Foreign Relations, and on the boards of a number of major corporations in the Philippine and
abroad. Mr. SyCip graduated summa cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas,
Philippines, and earned an MBA at Columbia Business School in 1943. He has been awarded a
number of honorary degrees and has received awards from the Republic of Austria, the King of
Sweden, the Philippine government, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Ming-Hsing (Richard) Tsai is chairman of Fubon Bank and has more than 30 years of
experience in financial and insurance businesses. He is vice chairman of Fubon Financial
Holding Co., Ltd. Mr. Tsai joined Fubon Group in 1983 and became a director of the Bank in
February 2004; he served as chairman of Fubon Securities Co., Ltd. and Fubon Life Insurance
Co., Ltd. Richard Tsai is currently the chairman of the telecommunication services providers
Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Fixed Network Co., Ltd; is on the advisory board of the
Taipei City Museum; and serves as chairman of Taiwan Telecommunication Industry
Development Association and vice chairman of Taiwan Basketball Association. He earned a
BBA in 1979 from National Taiwan University and an MBA in 1981 from New York University.
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Susanne Wamsler is a patron of the Bavarian Staatsoper and a member of its Inner Circle
society. She grew up in Germany and currently lives near Munich with her husband, Paul Singer,
a retired advertising business owner. An alumna of St. Paul’s School, Princeton University, and
INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France, she has been involved in diverse
entrepreneurial ventures. Ms. Wamsler — whose mother, the late Honoré Wamsler, and father,
Karl Wamsler, have been enthusiastic New York Philharmonic supporters — is a longtime fan of
the Orchestra, traveling on the Patron Tour to Beijing, Pyongyang, and Seoul that accompanied
the Philharmonic’s historic visit there in February 2008.
Chaoyong Wang is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of ChinaEquity Group,
one of China’s earliest independent institutions devoted to venture capital and private equity
investment. In 1985 Tsinghua University selected him to study in the U.S., and he was one of the
first students from mainland China to become a financial professional on Wall Street. He worked
for Morgan Chase bank and Standard & Poor’s, concentrating in real estate (1987–92) and was
Asia vice president and chief representative of the Beijing Office for Morgan Stanley (1993–98).
A founder of Morgan Stanley’s China Investment Banking business, he led a series of overseas
financing for the Chinese government and state-owned enterprises. Since 1998 he has been a
Senior Consultant at the State Development Bank. Mr. Wang is also an active member of the
China Entrepreneur Club, one of the country’s most influential organizations of business leaders,
and a major promoter of sports in China. He is the founder of China Team, the first Chinese team
to compete for the America’s Cup.
Long Yu (Honorary Member) is a Chinese conductor serving as artistic director and chief
conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, which he co-founded in 2000; music director of
the Shanghai and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestras; founding artistic director of the Beijing
Music Festival; and artistic co-director (with Charles Dutoit) of the MISA Festival, which brings
classical music to the young people of Shanghai. Mr. Yu played a leading role in creating the
Shanghai Orchestra Academy, China’s first, as a partnership between Shanghai Symphony
Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He regularly
appears with the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies, including the New York,
Munich, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Tokyo Philharmonic orchestras. As a champion of new
music, he has commissioned works from composers including Krzysztof Penderecki, Philip
Glass, John Corigliano, Guo Wenjing, and Ye Xiaogang. Mr. Yu led the China Philharmonic’s
performance for Pope Benedict XIV, the first time in history a Chinese orchestra performed at
the Vatican. Born in 1964 in Shanghai, he studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and the
Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin. He is a Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the
recipient of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation’s 2002 Arts Patronage Award, and in 2005 the
Republic of Italy honored him with the title of L’onorificenza di commendatore. Long Yu’s first
Philharmonic appearance was leading the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on a New York
Philharmonic Concert in the Park in 2010, and he made his Philharmonic debut conducting the
inaugural Chinese New Year Concert in 2012, a tradition he has continued annually, including in
February 2015, after making his Philharmonic subscription debut in January 2015.
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