McGill Chinese OrchestraOrchestre chinois de McGill
Joining instructions · 2026 – 2027

Welcome to
the orchestra.

Everything you need for your first season with MCO: who we are, how the year runs, what we expect at rehearsals, and the musical basics to know before day one.

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The full McGill Chinese Orchestra on stage under warm concert lighting
2026 – 2027Season handbook
Membership fee (CAD)
$25
One rehearsal cycle
Oct – Mar
Excused absences per semester, at most
2
2027 Annual Concert
Mar 6
Welcome words

A stage for Chinese music.

Welcome to McGill Chinese Orchestra (MCO), a community of musicians and enthusiasts dedicated to showcasing the rich heritage of Chinese orchestral music.

We bring together traditional instruments, modern expressions, and diverse talents to create unforgettable performances. Whether you are an amateur musician or a professional performer, MCO gives you the dream stage for Chinese music performance.

Pipa players performing side by side in qipao
2026 – 2027 Executive Committee

The people behind the music.

MCO members standing together after a performance at a reception

General questions for the whole committee: mco@ssmu.ca

Club governance policies

How we work together.

$25.00 CAD

Membership fee

Every member of the McGill Chinese Orchestra pays a membership fee of $25.00 CAD. The fees make up the club budget for organizing the concert and bonding activities.

Cycle participation

  1. Definition of a cycle

    A cycle in our club lasts between October and March, during which we aim to complete rehearsals and a final performance, which may take the form of an annual concert or a video recording of multiple music pieces.

  2. Member consent

    Prior to the start of each cycle, members must agree to participate. This consent must be given before the cycle begins and cannot be withdrawn after one week from the start or after the completion of the first rehearsal, whichever comes first.

  3. Cycle schedule publication

    The schedule for each cycle, including the dates and times of all rehearsals, will be published one week before the official start date of the cycle. This advance notice gives members ample time to arrange their personal schedules, and gives the club a chance to adjust dates to accommodate as many participating members as possible.

Rehearsal attendance

  1. Notify absences in advance

    In the event of an absence due to an exam, performance, travel conflict, or illness, members must inform the VP Internal Affairs at least one day before the scheduled orchestral or sectional rehearsal.

    Same-day absence requests or absences without prior notice are not permitted.

  2. Limit on excused absences

    Rehearsal times are determined based on the collective availability of all members, so each member is expected to manage their schedule responsibly. This limit underscores the importance of commitment in maintaining the integrity of our rehearsal schedule.

    No more than two excused absences per semester.

  3. Non-compliance

    Failure to adhere to the attendance policy may result in the member being removed from the current cycle.

Activities in the 2026 – 2027 academic year

The year ahead.

  1. September 2026
    Recruiting

    Fall Activities Night

    • Tabling in the Fieldhouse / SSMU Ballroom as a recruiting event
  2. October 2026
    Community

    Welcome Event

    • In-person meeting and activities session to get to know each other
  3. October – December 2026
    Rehearsals

    Sectional and orchestral rehearsals

    • Sectional rehearsals alternate with orchestral rehearsals
    • Each happens once every two weeks
  4. January 2027
    Tickets

    Winter Activities Night

    • Tabling in the Fieldhouse / SSMU Ballroom to sell concert tickets
  5. January – February 2027
    Rehearsals

    Sectional and orchestral rehearsals

    • Orchestral rehearsals every weekend
    • Sectional rehearsals once a week, on weekday nights
  6. February 2027
    Performance

    CSSA Spring Festival Gala

    • Performance of 2–3 orchestral or ensemble pieces
  7. March 2027
    Concert

    MCO Annual Concert

    • The big showtime of the year

Bonding events are organized throughout the year at the discretion of the VP Internal Affairs and announced in person or on WeChat beforehand. Anyone is welcome to propose ideas, and getting to know each other is strongly encouraged.

McGill Chinese Orchestra 2027 Annual Concert

The big showtime.

A robed traveller with an instrument case looks over a golden valley and distant desert at sunset, a dizi resting on the rocks

风土之声Echoes of the Land

Date
Saturday, March 6, 2027
Location
TBA

The Annual Concert is far more than a performance: it is the apex of MCO's academic year and the most significant event on its calendar. It is the culmination of months of individual practice, collective rehearsal and organizational logistics, sharing Chinese music, culture and heritage with the public.

Programme

First half
  1. 象王行
  2. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
  3. 串烧
  4. 走西口
  5. Golden Hour
  6. 敦煌

10-minute intermission

Second half
  1. 彝族舞曲
  2. 一步之遥 + Libertango
  3. 在那遥远的地方
  4. 河西走廊之梦
  5. 瑶族舞曲

The programme is chosen collectively by MCO members of the previous academic year, after their Annual Concert. Everyone is encouraged to perform in small ensembles on top of the orchestral pieces; register with the VP Music if you would like to take part.

Performers are selected at the discretion of the VP Music and the President, and are announced before scores are distributed.

Gig opportunities

Beyond the concert hall.

Members performing in front of Canadian flags at a reception
A small ensemble playing for a seated audience in a banquet hall
A guzheng player beside a carved red pillar

MCO performs at several gigs throughout the academic year, which are major fundraising events for the club. Members are not paid for gig performances, but are strongly encouraged to take part to gain performing experience and strengthen social connections. An allowance for a post-gig celebration may be approved by the President and the VP Finance on request.

Gig dates are not fixed in advance; they are announced in person and on WeChat as soon as MCO receives an invitation. Sign up with the VP Internal Affairs if you would like to play. Pieces and rehearsals are decided by the VP Music or the committee member in charge of that gig.

Rehearsals

Showing up, in tune.

分声部排练

Sectional rehearsal

Members of the same section (e.g. plucked strings such as guzheng, yangqin and pipa) gather to rehearse their parts together, supervised or conducted by section leaders or the VP Music.

合奏排练

Orchestral rehearsal

Everyone performing a given piece is expected to be present, across all sections: bowed strings, plucked strings, Western strings, winds and percussion. The conductor of the piece runs the session and reports progress to the VP Music and/or President.

Rehearsal schedule

Kept up to date by the committee. Numbers under a piece give its place in that day's running order; a number before a sectional entry counts that section's sessions.

DateTime & place弦乐Strings弹拨Plucked strings打击Percussion管乐WindsTuttiRunning order
Sep.161河西走廊之梦( reading only)
  • 瑶族舞曲马浩东
  • 河西走廊之梦马浩东
  • 在那遥远的地方Henry
  • 象王行Henry
  • 山丹丹花开红艳艳马浩东
  • 串烧马浩东
  • 拉德斯基进行曲Radetzky March春晚
  • 斗地主春晚
  • 小城故事春晚
Sep.194:30-6:30 pmSchulich1河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Sep.202-3:45 pmSchulich1河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Sep.227-8:30 pmSchulich2河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Sep.261-3 pmSchulich2河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Sep.307-8:30pmSchulich3河西走廊之梦
Oct.34:30-6:30pmSchulich2在那遥远的地方、河西走廊之梦、瑶族舞曲
Oct.33-4:30p mSchulich3河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行
Oct.77-8:30pmSchulich4河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Oct.17Next4run through: 河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行 start：山丹丹 、瑶族舞曲
Oct.17Next4:30-6:30pmSchulich3河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行、山丹丹、瑶族舞曲
Oct.244:30-6:30pmSchulich4河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行、山丹丹、瑶族舞曲
Oct.24Schulich5串烧、瑶族舞曲
Oct.319:30am- 12:30pmSchulich c-304
  1. 河西走廊之梦
  2. 在那遥远的地方
Schulich河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方
Nov.149:30am-12:30pmSchulich c-304
  1. 河西走廊之梦
  2. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
Schulich象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹
Nov.282-5pm
  1. 在那遥远的地方
  2. 象王行
Schulich象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹象王行、山丹丹
Dec.122-5pm
  1. 象王行
  2. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
Schulich串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲
Dec.26
Jan.22-5pm
  1. 串烧
  2. 瑶族舞曲
Schulich串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲串烧、瑶族舞曲
Jan.162-5pm
  1. 串烧
  2. 瑶族舞曲
Schulich河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行河西走廊之梦、在那遥远的地方、象王行
Jan.302-5pm
  1. 河西走廊之梦
  2. 在那遥远的地方
  3. 象王行
Feb.62-5pmSchulich山丹丹、串烧、瑶族舞曲山丹丹、串烧、瑶族舞曲山丹丹、串烧、瑶族舞曲山丹丹、串烧、瑶族舞曲
Feb.132-5pm
  1. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
  2. 串烧
  3. 瑶族舞曲
Feb.202-5pm
  1. 象王行
  2. 走西口
  3. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
  4. 串烧
  5. Golden Hour
  6. 敦煌
  7. 彝族舞曲
  8. 一步之遥+Libertango
  9. 在那遥远的地方
  10. 河西走廊之梦
  11. 瑶族舞曲
Feb.272-5pm
  1. 象王行
  2. 走西口
  3. 山丹丹花开红艳艳
  4. 串烧
  5. Golden Hour
  6. 敦煌
  7. 彝族舞曲
  8. 一步之遥+Libertango
  9. 在那遥远的地方
  10. 河西走廊之梦
  11. 瑶族舞曲
Mar.6 Concert
  • Sep.16-Oct.24: Sectionals
  • Oct.31: First tutti rehersal
  • Feb.20: First dress rehearsal
  • Feb 27: Second dress rehearsal
  • Mar.6: Concert
Plucked-string section playing pipa and liuqin together

Expectations

Before each rehearsal
  • Tune your instrument
  • Review your scores
  • Report any mistake in the scores to the VP Music
  • Make sure all mistakes are corrected
  • Practise your own part
  • Ask your section leader or the VP Music for help if you meet any difficulty
When you come to rehearsal
  • Arrive on time
  • Bring your in-tune instrument (unless agreed otherwise with the VP Internal Affairs or VP Music)
  • Bring the scores you have reviewed
  • Bring a pen or pencil
  • Be happy and motivated ;)

If an emergency keeps you from a rehearsal, contact the VP Internal Affairs immediately to explain the situation.

Mostly what you need to know before the first rehearsal

Musicianship 101.

Conducting patterns

Follow the conductor's baton: each beat of the bar lands on a point of the pattern, and beat 1 is always the downstroke.

  • 11-beat pattern
  • 122-beat pattern
  • 1233-beat pattern
  • 12344-beat pattern

Dynamics

SymbolName中文Meaning
crescendo渐强
Gradually getting louder
decrescendo / diminuendo渐弱
Gradually getting softer
pppianissimo超弱
Very soft
ppiano弱
Soft
mpmezzo piano中弱
Fairly soft
mfmezzo forte中强
Fairly loud
fforte强
Loud
fffortissimo超强
Very loud
sfzsforzando突强
Sudden accent

Reading one beat

The same rhythms in numbered notation (简谱), on the down-up motion of the beat, and on the staff (五线谱).

Jianpu简谱
Beat motion节奏图形
Staff五线谱

Other vocabulary

Bar / measure小节
A segment of music bounded by vertical lines.
Pick-up
Officially known as anacrusis: a sequence of notes that precedes the next downbeat.
Pick-up to Chorus 1: the three notes before the bar line lead into the downbeat.
Score excerpt: a sixteenth-note pick-up of 3 6 7 marked mp, leading into Chorus 1
Tremolo
A trembling effect created by the rapid repetition of a single note. In Chinese instruments this corresponds to 摇指, 轮指, 颤弓 and so on.
Pizzicato
To pluck the strings of a string instrument.
Staccato
To play the notes in a short, detached and separated manner.
Ritardando渐慢
Gradually decreasing tempo.
Accelerando渐快
Gradually increasing tempo.
Fermata
A note that should be held or sustained longer than its written value.

For accel., rit. and fermatas in an orchestral piece, looking at the conductor is absolutely required!

Welcome again to McGill Chinese Orchestra.
Let's make music and have fun together!

MCO Executive Committee

Contact the committeeExplore our concerts