It is said that China may hold more than 50 million piano and violin pupils -- about a sixth of the population of the United States. As some of America's best music pupils, the members of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra will get a chance to witness this growing scene up close in a concert tour this June. The ensemble will perform in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong and also visit Suzhou, Wuzhen and Shenzhen.

"We decided it was time to go to China," said Craig Johnson, executive director. "It is such a totally different cultural immersion for many of the kids."

In addition to giving concerts, the musicians will interact with Chinese students.

"We will perform with the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra and a chorus, and we will be doing exchange activities with students in Beijing and Shanghai," Johnson said.

The orchestra's entourage will be 150 strong, with 85 orchestra members, 13 chaperones, six staff members and 46 family companions. Music director Daniel Meyer will conduct repertoire including two American works -- Copland's "El Salon Mexico" and Michael Torke's "Javelin" -- and two classics -- Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances" and Bizet's "Carmen Suite."

But a highlight will be the performance of young Chinese composer Zhou Tian's "The Palace of Nine Perfections" in Hangzhou, where he was born in 1981. It is possible the composer will be in attendance.

"It would be fantastic to have him there to hear his piece performed in his hometown," Johnson said.

The tour also will provide plenty of sight-seeing for the young musicians, including the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Pagoda of the Six Harmonies.

PYSO, which last undertook international travel in a tour to Europe in 2005, is asking for donations to help cover the expense of the China tour and enable some members to afford to participate.

One possibility is the Painted Violins raffle, which takes place at a May 3 concert at Heinz Hall.

Adult artists have painted violins and other instruments that will be on display at a Feb. 24 concert and on its Web site, www.pyso.us. Direct donations can be made by calling 412-392-4872. Both PYSO concerts at Heinz Hall are at 2 p.m. and are free.