To know more about Sichuan, click the following link:
Current status of the selection process
We have decided to select the county level cities of Du Jiang Yan and Peng Zhou for the locations of our first two 'Schools of Orchestra'. The city of Jin Tang also impressed us much and will be retained as a choice for further openings in the next years.
To know more about these locations and our relationship with them, please click on the individual hyperlinks above.
Sichuan
Sichuan, an abbreviation for Chuānxiá Sìlù, translated as the Four
Circuits of Rivers and Gorges, is the fifth largest
Chinese province with a population of more than 83 million.
Although as one of the major agricultural bases in China it has been called the ‘Land of Abundance’, it has one of the lowest GDP per capita in China, ranking 24 out of 31.
Sichuan is today one of the major industrial centers of China. In addition to heavy industries such as coal, energy, iron and steel, the province has also established a light industrial sector comprising but not limited to building materials, wood processing, food and silk processing and wine.
Its cuisine is among the most appreciated in the world, celebrated not only because of its spicy dishes but also because of the sophisticated mix of ingredients.
Sichuan is also the land of Pandas, and the only place on earth in which these animals live in their natural state. As home of three UNESCO world natural heritage sites, Sichuan has become one of China's most important provinces in terms of tourism development.
Sichuan Earthquake
On May
12, 2008 a devastating earthquake hit the region of Sichuan. Epicentered
in Wenchuan County, it killed 68,712 people, making it the 19th
deadliest earthquake disaster in history. The intensity of the quake
reached 7.9 on the Richter scale.
A total of 5,335 students in Sichuan were confirmed dead or missing
as a result of the earthquake, with another 546 students disabled as a
result of the disaster that left them trapped as their school buildings
collapsed during class hours.
A total of 3,340 schools were flattened by the quake, with a further
10,000 schools left seriously damaged.
Just five hours after the quake, Premier Wen JiaBao flew to the affected area. His words, his affection and his compassion will remain forever in the hearts of all the members of Music for the Growing Mind. His actions during those fatal days also played a major role in the conception of Music for the Growing Mind as a source of secondary tier relief for the devastated communities.