SHANGHAI, May 8, 2010 - At the invitation of the USA Pavilion, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Center, 113 Chinese schoolgirls revisit history as student ambassadors to witness US participation in World Expo 2010, and to experience the largest Expo ever in history.

Over a century ago, back in 1876, during the United States first World Expo in Philadelphia, US President Ulysses S. Grant made a special arrangement to meet with a youth delegation - 113 teenage students from China who were studying in the US at the time. The group of Chinese adolescents was sent by the Qing Government to learn advanced western technologies in America. These young students were amazed by what they witnessed and many went on to continue their education at some of the US's top universities - including Harvard, Yale, Columbia and more. After returning to China, many of them achieved significant success - including a future president of Tsinghua University, and the Republic's first premier.

Today, the invited students have come from Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School in Shanghai's Changning district, juxtaposing the changes that have occurred in the 134 years since 1876, when only Chinese boys attended the US exhibits.

The days' activities included a special tour of the USA Pavilion, before that, there was a commemoration followed by a performance of a quintet of musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra at the America's Square, an open air stage at the Expo site nearby the USA Pavilion. The students, many of them learning musical instruments themselves, were deeply touched by the performance.

The significance of inviting 113 student ambassadors to visit Shanghai World Expo is not only to revisit history, but also to elevate the time-honored friendship between China and America.

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About The USA Pavilion

The USA Pavilion's theme at Shanghai Expo 2010 is "Rising to the Challenge." It tells the story of the American spirit of perseverance, innovation, and community-building in a multi-dimensional, hi-tech presentation. The Pavilion presents America as a place of opportunity and diversity where people come together to inspire and create change. Its theme encompasses many core values central to the American spirit: Sustainability, Teamwork, Health, Technology, and Innovation. These values create a foundation for the American way of life, demonstrating that dreams are limitless and opportunities are within ones reach.

Positioned at the West Expo Gate in the Americas zone, the USA Pavilion covers a span of 6,000 square meters (60,000 square feet) and is one of the largest Pavilions at the Expo. In line with the Expo theme of "Better City, Better Life," this smart urban structure was designed by Clive Grout, an architect with World Expo experience. The architectural design of the US Pavilion also reflects the underlying theme of the USA Pavilion where guests will be given a glimpse of an American city of the future celebrating the success of "Rising to the Challenges" by providing clean energy, green spaces, clean water and rooftop gardens. In addition, state of the art technical features are implemented to ensure energy efficiency while highlighting the sustainability message of the Expo.

The USA Pavilion introduces nature to its compact, low-rise, urban scale development by including sustainable elements which will contribute to greener urban future. For example, it features uniquely-designed waterfall and reflecting pool that cools the entrance area while masking sounds, and urban-planning foliage that add to the heat cooling effect, while contributing to a clean air habitat. The USA Pavilion also features roof terraces with an urban vegetable garden that is modeled after Michelle Obama's garden at the White House. Thematically, the bold and simple shape of the USA Pavilion shadows that of an eagle with open wings, a creature that is uninhibited by boundaries. It also serves as the national emblem for America, a country that offers limitless opportunities. Beyond the expression of opportunity, the eagle has been designed with its wings open as a gesture to welcome guests into the Pavilion.

The theme of the USA Pavilion is expressed through a series of four experiences in different theater and exhibit layouts. At the first theater, Jos¨Ś H. Villarreal, USA Pavilion Commissioner General, welcomes the visitors by taking them on a virtual tour of America. The next theater presents certain individuals who come from all over American who have positively impacted their communities. The third theater is full of surprises! It has five extraordinary 10-meter-tall screens form a cylinder with a 500-seat configuration, and the guests can experience live physical effects while watching a 4-D film titled "The Garden". The fourth show is a walk-through exhibit experience to present how Americans are taking practical steps to make "Better City, Better Life" a reality.
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Philadelphia Orchestra Tour History

The Philadelphia Orchestra has a long and distinguished touring history throughout the world. Just four days after its inaugural concert on November 16, 1900, it was already on the road, traveling to the neighboring city of Reading. Since that time, the Orchestra has crisscrossed the globe on a regular basis, becoming one of the most-traveled American symphonic ensembles.
In 1973, the Orchestra under Ormandy's direction became the first American orchestra to perform in the People's Republic of China, at the special request of President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. The Orchestra returned to China in 1993, 1996, and 2001, and marked its 35th anniversary of the historic 1973 visit with a gala concert in Beijing in 2008.

In 1999, The Philadelphia Orchestra became the first American symphony orchestra to visit Vietnam during its tenth tour of Asia. Wolfgang Sawallisch directed performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and Orchestra musicians gave master classes at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music and a free gift concert to the children of Hanoi. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge accompanied part of the 1999 tour of Asia, marking the first time a Pennsylvania governor had participated in a Philadelphia Orchestra international tour.
The Orchestra's first tour of Asia took place in 1967, with performances in Osaka, Kanazawa, Nagoya, and Tokyo, Japan. It made its first visit to Korea in 1978 with subsequent visits to Korea in 1981, 1985, 1996, and 2005. The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2010 Tour of Asia will mark its 35th tour outside North America and 14th visit to Asia.
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About The Philadelphia Orchestra

Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the world through a century of acclaimed performances, historic international tours, best-selling recordings, and its unprecedented record of innovation in recording technologies and outreach. The Orchestra has maintained unity in artistic leadership with only seven music directors throughout its history: Fritz Scheel (1900-07), Carl Pohlig (1907-12), Leopold Stokowski (1912-41), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003), and Christoph Eschenbach (2003-08).

This rich tradition is carried on by Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit. Mr. Dutoit has a long-standing relationship with the Orchestra, having made his debut with the ensemble in 1980. Highlights of his second season include performances of Berlioz's Te Deum and Symphonie fantastique, part of Mr. Dutoit's four-year focus on the works of that composer, and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Samuel Barber's birthday. During his tenure, Mr. Dutoit will also showcase the music of the Ballets Russes, continuing in the 2009-10 season with performances of Stravinsky's Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of more than one million music lovers worldwide through its performances, publications, recordings, and broadcasts. Each year the Orchestra presents a subscription season in Philadelphia, education and community partnership programs, annual appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and a three-week tour. Its summer schedule includes performances at Philadelphia's Mann Center for the Performing Arts, free Neighborhood Concerts, and residencies at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please contact:
Katherine Blodgett/The Philadelphia Orchestra
Vice President, Public Relations and Communications
phone: 215.893.1939
e-mail: kblodgett@philorch.org
www.philorch.org.
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About Pennsylvania Center

Pennsylvania Center (PAC) was created in 2006 to develop commercial relationship between Pennsylvania and China. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and in collaboration with private-sector members of the Pennsylvania business community, PAC represents the State of Pennsylvania's interest in the expanding market of China.

For more information on Pennsylvania Center, please contact: Jim Curtis
Address: Suite A403, Tomorrow Square, 399 West Nanjing Road, 200003, Shanghai
phone: 8621 2308 1029
e-mail: jimcurtis@pausa.org.cn
www.pausa.org.cn
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About Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School

Being a prestigious school with over 100 years' development, Shanghai No.3 Girls High School has now enjoyed a good reputation both at home and abroad with friendly cultural exchange relationships with a number of counterparts in various countries and regions. A great many celebrities, such as Song Qingling, the late Honorary Chairman of the State, and her two sisters, once studied in this school. Zhu Lilan, the former Minister of Science and Technology of the State Council, Deng Zhifeng, Vice Chairman of the State Senate of Oregon of the United States, etc., all graduated from the school.