The Shanghai Conservatory of Music hosted its international summer school across June and July, welcoming 58 students from 16 countries for an immersive journey into traditional Chinese music and culture.

The program, designed to enhance cross-cultural exchange and showcase China's musical heritage, combined interdisciplinary learning with hands-on artistic collaboration.

Its curriculum featured professional instruction, themed lectures, workshops, cultural exploration, and concert attendance. Lectures covered various themes such as the evolution of ancient Chinese instruments, the aesthetics of traditional Chinese operas, and applications of artificial intelligence in composition and music therapy, aiming to inspire passion for musical exploration from multifaceted perspectives.

Students were actively engaged in a variety of workshops. In a Peking Opera percussion workshop, they experienced the rhythmic gongs and drums used in operas. At the folk music workshop, participants from Russia and Malaysia made reports on local musical history. A Spanish student demonstrated how to perform classic Catalan dances, while an American participant collaborated with a student at the college to perform original pieces that integrate santoor with violin and erhu — a Chinese two-stringed fiddle — showcasing the creative spirit of cross-cultural collaboration.

The program also included attendance at five concerts, featuring string music, Chinese instrumental music, vocal music, and concertos.

Beyond classroom learning, the program included cultural explorations of key landmarks in Shanghai and Jiangnan, the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

In Shanghai, they visited Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. These firsthand experiences of local customs deepened their understanding of the city's historical development and cultural charm. They then traveled to Zhejiang province's Huzhou, touring Nanxun Ancient Town and several museums dedicated to intangible cultural heritage, further enhancing their appreciation of Jiangnan-style aesthetics.

The program culminated in a ceremony featuring over 30 performances by the participants across various artistic styles, showcasing traditional Chinese music alongside other local classics. Highlights included the innovative adaptations of classic pieces, such as a vocal-instrumental rendition of Jasmine Flower.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Conservatory of Music at "shcm1927"