Buzz Brass Quintet performs The Planets with pipe organ artist at the opening concert of Meet in Beijing Arts Festival on April 25, 2016. [Photo/meetinbeijing.org.cn]

The grand opening for the 16th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival took place at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on April 25, 2016 with a Spring in China and Canada themed concert.

Chinese cultural Vice Minister Ding Wei, and former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps, attended the concert.

Ding addressed the audience before the concert saying, “Since its inauguration in 2000, Meet in Beijing has developed into a comprehensive international arts festival. After 15 successive sessions, it has presented diverse and fabulous cultures and arts through performances by more than 30,000 artists and 1,000 art troupes from 115 countries and regions to the Beijing audience.”

Mark Rowswell, a well-known Canadian scholar and TV host, who is better known as Dashan among Chinese audiences, hosted the concert. Rowswell is widely known for his mastery in spoken Chinese and performing “xiangsheng” - a traditional Chinese folk art.

Canada is the guest country of honor at this year's festival. Canadian soprano Katherine Whyte and four Canadian art groups were invited to participate in the concert: the Ottawa Bach Choir, the Ensemble Caprice Baroque Orchestra, the Goh Ballet Academy, and the Buzz Quintet.