The South Coast Chinese Cultural Association and Irvine Chinese School began their journey in 1976, offering weekend Chinese language and cultural classes in a few rented classrooms. As word spread about the quality of education, the school quickly expanded, with over 1,000 students enrolling each year.

During the 1980s, as the Asian immigrant population in Orange County tripled, there was a growing demand for Asian Pacific cultural performances. The South Coast Chinese Cultural Center and Irvine Chinese School, recognized as leading cultural institutions, were frequently invited to showcase Chinese arts. In 1987, they were invited by Ruth Ding, the president of PPPAI, to perform at the newly opened Segerstrom Hall.

The new millennium brought the most important milestone since the establishment of the Irvine Chinese School: the planning and construction of a permanent campus. In 2005, the grand opening of the K.Y. Tai Educational Building marked the realization of a long-held dream. With state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, gymnasium, amphitheater, and Chinese garden, the center became a hub for nurturing artistic talent and preserving Chinese culture, offering diverse educational and cultural resources to Irvine and surrounding communities.

In March 2017, under the Chief Executive Officer Yulan Chung and with the generous support of Board Member Janie Tsao, the South Coast Chinese Orchestra was established. Led by the talented conductor Bin He and artistic director Jiangli Yu, the orchestra brings together outstanding musicians from Southern California. It is unique as California's only symphony orchestra that seamlessly blends traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu, pipa, and guzheng with Western instruments such as the violin, cello, flute, and harp.

The South Coast Chinese Orchestra has gained attention in the music world for its original musical productions, collaborating with Dance Company of Southern California, South Coast Chinese Drum Team, and South Coast Wushu Team to enhance the artistic experiences.

In 2019, the orchestra debuted its first original musical“Mulan”at Segerstrom Concert Hall during the Orange County Lantern Festival. With original compositions, choreography, and staging, the production offered a fresh and unprecedented experience, receiving widespread acclaim and reaffirming the orchestra's commitment to blending Chinese and Western musical traditions in its original works.

Even during the pandemic, the creative team did not stop. In 2023, they premiered their second original production, “Monkey King”. This musical featured captivating pairings of Chinese and Western instruments, such as the erhu with the violin, the guzheng with the harp, and the bamboo flute with the Western flute. To add a modern touch, the production also included electric guitar, bass, and jazz drums. “Monkey King” also incorporated Peking Opera and pop music vocals, with performances that included dance, Chinese martial arts, and Tai Chi, creating a spectacular show that left audiences in awe.

The latest original production, “Nezha”, is highly anticipated and promises to draw even more audiences into the world of performing arts. Composer and conductor Bin He explains, "While most musicals tell a story through lyrics and dialogue, we tell our stories through music, using the voices of different instruments to shape characters, settings, and eras." In the first movement of “Nezha”, the handpan is used to express the anticipation of Nezha’s mother as she awaits his birth. The second movement features a dynamic interplay between Western drums and Chinese drums, vividly portraying Nezha’s heroic battle against evil forces.

“Legends” marks the first time that three legendary figures—Mulan, Monkey King, and Nezha—share the stage. The production goes beyond traditional performance arts by integrating world music, dance, martial arts, rhythmic gymnastics, and animated special effects. It also highlights the core virtues of Chinese culture: Mulan’s filial piety, Monkey King’s courage, and Nezha’s justice. These virtues—loyalty, filial piety, justice, and courage—are the essence of Chinese culture, each word embodying values that have been passed down for millennia, reflecting the cultural traditions that Chinese uphold in their daily lives.

“Legends”, an original production by the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, is also a milestone in Orange County’s performing arts scene. It represents the commitment of Chinese Americans to preserving their cultural heritage in a diverse and free society, while also embracing artistic influences from around the world. Through innovative performing arts, this production ensures that the wisdom of our ancestors continues to be passed down through generations, becoming an integral part of American culture.

 Ticket For Sale Now 

7pm, October 12

Segerstrom Hall

600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

南海岸中華文化協會和爾灣中文學校自1976年起，開始在幾間租來的教室裡展開週末的中文和文化課程。隨著校譽傳揚，學校迅速擴展，每年註冊上課的中、小學生很快就超過1,000人。

80年代適逢橙縣亞裔移民加倍成長，亞太裔文化展覽需求高漲，南海岸中華文化協會和爾灣中文學校作為本地優質文化團體，經常獲邀表演或展示代表中華文化的藝術，並曾於1987年應PPPAI會長丁鄧雲燕之邀，榮登剛落成啟用的Segerstrom Hall舞台演出。

千禧年迎來南海岸中華文化協會及爾灣中文學校成立以來最重要的里程碑，家長及社區人士開始規畫籌建永久校舍，作為上課及活動場地。

2005年南海岸中華文化中心的戴廣源文教大樓落成啟用，設備齊全的教室、圖書館、體育館、戶外劇場和中式花園，讓師生、家長與社區民眾多年來的美夢成真。南海岸中華文化中心致力於培育藝術新秀及文化項目，成為傳承中華文化的基地，提供爾灣及週邊地區居民多元豐富的教育文化資源。

2017年3月由南海岸中華文化中心執行長鐘幼蘭女士倡導，理事吳健女士鼎力贊助成立了「南海岸中華樂團」。在充滿遠見卓識的指揮何彬老師及藝術總監余江荔老師領導下，南海岸中華樂團匯集來自南加州的傑出樂手，不僅有演奏二胡、琵琶、古箏等傳統中國樂器的音樂家，還有擅長小提琴、大提琴、長笛、豎琴等西洋樂器的好手。

南海岸中華樂團是加州唯一交響樂團級的中西編制樂團，近年先後製作完成多部原創音樂劇作品，深受音樂界矚目。樂團也與南加州中華舞團、南海岸中華鼓團、南海岸中華武術隊等藝術團體合作，致力於提升表演藝術的全方位體驗。

南海岸中華樂團於2019年橙縣元宵節之際，在Segerstrom Concert Hall推出了首部原創音樂劇《花木蘭》，用四個樂章演繹了木蘭代父從軍的故事，從作曲到編舞，從舞台到劇情都是原創，整場演出令觀眾耳目一新，帶來前所未有的震撼！此場演出獲得的巨大成功， 確定了樂團堅持走中西合璧，原創節目的方向！

在疫情重創表演藝術期間，中華樂團仍精心規劃第二部作品《美猴王》，並於2023年推出首演。 《美猴王》挑選中西樂器配對，展現了中西樂器各自的演奏風格與技巧，例如二胡與小提琴、古箏與豎琴、竹笛與西洋長笛的絕妙組合。為了讓國樂更具現代感，還加入電聲樂團的電吉他、電貝斯和爵士鼓。《美猴王》也融入京劇與流行音樂的演唱，舞台表演包括舞蹈、中華武術、太極，整場演出精彩紛呈，讓觀眾目不暇給，嘆為觀止！

南海岸中華樂團最新的原創音樂劇《哪吒》即將登場，將引領更多觀眾走進表演藝術的殿堂。樂團作曲兼指揮何彬說：「一般音樂劇是用歌詞與對話呈現劇情，而我們是用音樂講故事，採用不同樂器的聲音來塑造人物、場景及年代。」在《哪吒》的第一樂章，就採用手碟（handpan）來表現哪吒之母靜夜待產的心情。第二樂章中段也運用西洋鼓與中式排鼓獨奏互相呼應，用傳神有力的表現，襯托哪吒見義勇為、對抗惡勢力的精采畫面。

《傳奇》首度集結花木蘭、美猴王及哪吒三個傳奇人物登台亮相，除了融入世界音樂、舞蹈、武術、藝術體操、動畫特效等創新表演藝術之外，更聚焦花木蘭的「孝」、美猴王的「勇」及哪吒的「義」。忠、孝、義、勇等美德是中華傳統文化的精髓，一個字承載著流傳千年的價值觀，充分體現了華人在日常生活中傳遞的優秀文化傳統！

由南海岸中華文化中心原創的《傳奇》音樂劇，也是橙縣表演藝術的新里程碑，代表美國華裔在多元自由的社會中，致力於傳承中華文化，吸收來自世界各地的藝術精華，以創新的表演藝術深入人心，確保祖先的智慧代代相傳，生生不息，成為美國文化的一部分。

  点击觀賞《傳奇》  

7pm, October 12

Segerstrom Hall

600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626