The China Philharmonic orchestra has kicked off their North American tour with a concert at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. It is the first time the orchestra has performed in Vancouver.

Classical music fans in Vancouver got a special treat on Wednesday, as one of China's premier orchestra's perfomed popular western classics, including Beethoven's Symphony No.1 in C major and Dvorak's Symphony No.9. The China Philharmonic has teamed up with 12-year-old piano prodigy, Wang Ya'lun, this year for the North American tour.

The China Philharmonic orchestra has kicked off their North American tour with a concert at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Wang was just five years old when she became the youngest person to win an award at Berkeley's Bach Piano Competition in 2010. She received thunderous applause on Wednesday for her rendition of one of Beethoven's most important works. And the audience gave the China Philharmonic a standing ovation for its emotional and delicate execution of Dvorak's Symphony No.9.

The China Philharmonic was rated one of the world's most influential bands by Gramophone in 2009. Since it was founded in 2000, the orchestra has performed more than 1000 concerts in major cities around the world, including Vienna, London, Paris, Berlin, and Los Angeles.