Xiaogang Ye is regarded as one of China's leading contemporary composers, having been awarded a 2012 Guggenheim Fellowship, a 2013 China Arts Award, and a Distinguished Alumni citation from the Eastman School of Music in 2011. The Road to the Republic commemorates the centenary of the 1911 Revolution with classic and modern poetry, blending historical narrative with Ye's typically fluent musical style to create an epic and heroic symphonic work. The Cantonese Suite orchestrates original folk music from Ye's native region, the composer responding deeply to it's poignant and beautiful essence.