On 24 July 2026, 13-year-old composer and multi-instrumentalist Carey Tan presented his original Symphony No. 2: The Cries of War at the China National Opera House in Beijing, as part of the Peace and Future Symphony Concert — Kevin and Carey: Young Stars Symphony Night.

The work was performed by the China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yuan Ding.

This concert marked an important moment in Carey Tan’s artistic journey. His original symphonic music was performed in his birthplace, Beijing, by a national-level professional orchestra, on one of China’s major classical music stages. The concert attracted thousands of audience members in the theatre and reached 3.82 million online viewers through the live broadcast on China.com.cn.

The event also received wide attention from major Chinese media, including CCTV-15 Music Channel, Beijing Satellite TV, Guangming Daily, Xinhua News, China Daily, China News Service, China Youth Daily, The Beijing News, Beijing Youth Daily, and other national and cultural media platforms.

Carey Tan’s Symphony No. 2: The Cries of War is a large-scale orchestral work reflecting on war, suffering, compassion, and the longing for peace. The symphony is not a celebration of battle, nor a simple depiction of violence. Instead, it asks a deeper human question: after witnessing suffering, can we still choose compassion, restraint, and hope?

For Carey, the central message of the work is clear: there is no true victory in war. War destroys cities, homes, lives, memories, and the human spirit. Yet the piece does not remain only in darkness. Through its dramatic orchestral writing, emotional contrasts, and powerful narrative structure, The Cries of War moves from pain and conflict towards reflection, moral awakening, and the possibility of peace.

The symphony unfolds in three movements: Shadows of Misery, The Reflection, and The Pact. Together, they form a journey through the emotional and spiritual consequences of war. The first movement evokes suffering, fear, and devastation; the second turns inward, asking what humanity must learn from such pain; and the final movement moves towards a fragile but deeply necessary vision of peace.

A particularly distinctive feature of this work is the use of the marimba. Carey has spoken about the marimba’s ancient African traditions and the emotional meaning it takes on in this symphony. Part of the work was inspired by modern conflicts in Africa, including wars and suffering in regions such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Placing the marimba within a symphonic work partly inspired by contemporary African wars creates a powerful and poignant juxtaposition — both cultural and emotional.

In this performance, the marimba does not function merely as a colourful solo instrument. It becomes a voice of memory, humanity, and lament. Its sound carries warmth, fragility, rhythm, and pain, standing against the larger forces of the orchestra. In this way, the instrument becomes part of the symphony’s moral and emotional language.

This performance was part of a concert built around two powerful artistic lines. Carey Tan used original symphonic music to respond to war, artificial intelligence, nature, and the future of humanity, while his elder brother, pianist Kevin Tan, performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor” Concerto. Together, the brothers created a dialogue between classical tradition and new original voices: one reaching back to Beethoven’s spiritual strength, the other looking forward to the moral and existential questions of our time.

For Carey, music is a universal language — a language without borders, capable of speaking directly to the heart and spirit. His aim is to make symphonic music understandable not only to professional musicians, but to everyone. Through his works, he hopes audiences can hear stories, see images, feel emotions, and reflect on the shared questions facing humanity.

The Cries of War is ultimately a work about peace. It does not avoid darkness, but it uses music to transform suffering into reflection. It reminds us that peace is not passive; it is a choice, a responsibility, and a moral act. In Carey’s vision, music can help people remember suffering without becoming trapped by it, and can guide the listener towards empathy, restraint, and hope.

Following the Beijing performance, the Peace and Future Symphony Concert will continue its international journey, with further performances in Europe, including the Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, and London. Through these concerts, Carey Tan’s original symphonic works will continue to bring the creativity of young Chinese musicians to international classical music audiences, serving as a bridge between Chinese and Western cultures and allowing the world to hear a new generation of voices from China.

Work: Symphony No. 2: The Cries of War
Composer: Carey Tan
Orchestra: China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Yuan Ding
Venue: China National Opera House, Beijing
Date: 24 July 2026
Concert: Peace and Future Symphony Concert — Kevin and Carey: Young Stars Symphony Night