International Aimusic Festival

Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebration

International Aimusic Festival is held in later springs in San Jose, California by Aimusic School. The Festival presents Eastern traditions while emphasizing courtesy, collaboration, comity, and understanding. The school’s mission is to use these values to nurture positive human relationships.

The Festival celebrates the World Intangible Cultural Heritage arts proclaimed by UNESCO and all authentic traditional Chinese music. Aimusic promoted Kunqu, Peking, Yueju, Chuanju Operas, Pingtan, Jiangnan Sizhu and Cantonese music in the last a few years, and is open to staging other traditional performing art forms recognized for their distinct Eastern aesthetics.

In addition to artistic traditions, Aimusic promotes respect for the acoustic qualities in music, and hence advocates for un-amplified sound for all performances. Electricity and technology have brought modern conveniences to daily life, yet they have alienated people from nature in many ways. In times without sound reinforcement, performers’ voices still had to reach everyone in the audience, regardless of the venue: be it a teahouse, a courtyard, or a marketplace. Audiences used to be able to hear the singing clearly even in open spaces. Natural acoustics in cultural activities have been well preserved within the countrysides of China, and in opera houses and concert halls in the Western world. Through this international cultural exchange activity, Aimusic wishes for all to “go green” by listening to unaltered, natural sounds.

Presenting traditional arts in the traditional manner, we cordially invites performing arts groups, music schools, municipal organizations, and folk arts performers to join us. We greatly thank the city of San Jose, the state of California, and the federal government for their generous supports. With original colors, and enduringly natural flavors, all participants will enjoy lifetime benefits from this exceptional experience.


8th International Aimusic Festival

May 12, 2023

Bluegrass Twins Concert

California Theater (program) (photos) (videos)



7th International Aimusic Festival

May 14, 2022

Closing Ceremony: Portrait of the Dai Villages

Online live Concert (program) (videos)



6th International Aimusic Festival

May 15, 2021

Opening Ceremony: Dragon Boat

Online Live Concert (program) (videos)



5th International Aimusic Festival

May 16, 2020

Xian Di Pipa Pu 250th-Anniversary Celebration

Modern Day Premiere of the Scores for the Sanxian, Dizi, and Pipa (program) (videos)



The 18th-century collection recently rediscovered in the Old Library of St John’s College, Cambridge, UK

4th International Aimusic Festival

April 28 – May 4, 2019

Opening Ceremony: Autumn & Winter Concert

San Jose City College Main Gym (photos) (videos)



Developing Virtue Youth Chinese Orchestra, Capitol Chinese Orchestra, Aimusic, Youth Orchestra Silicon Valley

Song of Bliss Concert

San Jose State University Concert Hall (photos) (videos)



Aimusic Teaching Artists

Plucked Instrument Masterclass: A Conversation about Tone Quality

Fairmont San Jose (videos)



Speakers: Prof. TAN Longjian & Prof. LIN Ling

Closing Ceremony Concert

California Theater, San Jose (photos) (videos)



Virtuosos from Beijing, Aimusic, Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra

3rd International Aimusic Festival

April 28 – May 5, 2018

Opening Ceremony: Spring Blossom Ensemble Concert

Trianon Theater, San Jose (photos)



Developing Virtue Youth Chinese Orchestra, Sounds of Joy Homeschool and Community Band, Aimusic School, Youth Orchestra Silicon Valley

Spring Solo Recital

San Jose State University Concert Hall (photos) (videos)



Aimusic Teaching Artists

Closing Ceremony: Classical Heritage of China Concert

California Theater, San Jose (photos) (videos)



Aimusic School, Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra

2nd International Aimusic Festival

April 29 – May 6, 2017

Opening Ceremony - Culture & Tradition Concert

San Jose City College Theater (photos)



Capitol Chinese Orchestra, Chiffon Fu Guzheng Ensemble, YOSV, FYCO, Aimusic

Bright Bamboo Flute - Li Zengguang & Li Jifan Dizi Recital

San Jose City College Theater (photos) (videos)



Center for Chinese Music and Culture at Middle Tennessee State University, Aimusic

San Jose Stage Company (photos)



UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage Kunqu, Yueju and Peking Operas

Closing Ceremony - Classical Heritage of China Concert

California Theater (photos) (videos)



UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage Kunqu, Yueju and Peking Operas

1st International Aimusic Festival

April 28 – May 7, 2016

Opening Ceremony: Exhibition––Traditional Arts of Suzhou

San Jose City College Gallery (photos)



Ceremony VIP (from the left): Tang Jun, director of Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture; Xiao Xiayong, Cultural Consul of Consulate General of China in SF; Dr. Bryon Breland, president of San Jose City College; Luo Linquan, consul general of Consulate General of China in SF; Allen Peter, chair of San Jose Arts Commission; Wu Jiawen, performer of Suzhou City Pingtan Troupe; Xie Tan, principal of Aimusic School; Yu Zhang, artistic director of Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra

Guqin & Pingtan Concert

San Jose City College Theater (photos)



Guqin by Xu Junyue, president of Hangzhou West Lake Guqin Society and China Association of Guqin

Traditional Music Concert

San Jose City College Theater (photos)



Developing Virtue Youth Chinese Orchestra from the Ten Thousand Buddha City

Artistic Legacy of Traditional Chinese Music

San Jose City Hall Rotunda (photos)



Aimusic instructors with Cultural Affair officers of the City of San Jose

Closing Ceremony: World Intangible Cultural Heritage Kunqu & Peking Opera

California Theater (photos)



Xiao Xiayong, Cultural Consul of Consulate General of China in SF with the Festival performers