In March 1979 a delegation of prominent representatives from a broad spectrum of the arts spent fifteen days in China meeting with professionals in Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Shanghai. Martin E. Segal, Chairman of Lincoln Center and Center Director Professor Chou Wen-chung, served as delegation leaders. The group visited major arts institutions, attended performances, and gave lectures and master classes.
Delegates
- Martin E. Segal, Chairman, Lincoln Center
- Edith Segal, spouse of Martin E. Segal (Martin Segal chaired the delegation)
- David Bailey, jazz musician and teacher, Jazzmobile
- Michael Bennett, choreographer, Chorus Line
- Patton Campbell, costume designer, Metropolitan Opera
- Chandler Cowles, writer; actor, producer; co-producer
- Cornelius Chang, art historian, Smithsonian Institution
- Chou Wen-chung, composer; Director, Center for U.S.-China Arts Exchange
- Yi-an Chang, spouse of Chou Wen-chung; concert pianist
- Benjamin Dunham, Chamber Music America
- Ella Foshay, art historian; philanthropist
- Beate Gordon, Director, Performing Arts Department, The Asia Society
- John Holmstrom
- Bernard Jacobs, President, Shubert Organization
- Betty Jacobs, spouse of Bernard Jacobs
- Sol Levitt, visual artist
- Josephine Levitt, spouse of Sol Levitt
- Carol Luiken, costume designer, Metropolitan Opera
- Leonard Marcus, conductor; radio host
- James Mason, President, National Association for Music Education
- Bill Oakes, filmmaker
- Michael Rothfield, theater producer; banker
- Allon Schoener, cultural historian, curator (“Harlem on My Mind,” Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1969)
- Mary Schoener, spouse of Allon Schoener
- Phil Smith, Shubert Organization
- Phyllis Smith, spouse of Phil Smith
- Anna Sokolow, modern dance choreographer
- Ben Stevenson, Artistic Director, Houston Ballet, choreographer
- Louise Svendsen, art historian and curator, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Sze Yi-kwei, opera bass-baritone, Eastman School of Music
- Tsai Wen-ying, visual artist
- Vladimir Ussachevsky, composer, Electronic Music Center, Columbia University
- Michelle Vosper, Program Coordinator, Center for U.S.-China Arts Exchange
- Robin Wagner, set designer for opera and theater
Materials
The delegation carried, as gifts, $50,000 worth of books, records, musical scores and instruments, and video equipment—donated to Chinese organizations by U.S.-based companies and individuals. See the Newsletter, Spring 1980 (Volume 1, No. 1).