Chinese University Students Delegation For Musical Exchanges Visits Japan

nvited by the Japan-China Friendship Center （CJFC）， an 83-member Chinese university students’ delegation visited Tokyo and Hokkaido from July 9 to 16. It comprised students and teachers of the music specialty of the Central Conservatory of Music， the School of Music of the Minzu University of China and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

At the opening ceremony of the Pacific Music Festival and visiting Japan’s famous concert halls

The Pacific Music Festival （PMF） is an international educational event founded in 1990 by renowned international musician Leonard Bernstein and held annually for the purpose of providing better training for young musicians. In 2012， the PMF Orchestra held two well-received performances in Beijing and Shenyang.

By attending the opening ceremony of the PMF this year， the Chinese students were able to have close contact with world-class musicians and outstanding young talents while enjoying the charm of symphony music. The students listened to the masterpieces of Ludwig van Beethoven， Charles Gounod， George Friedrich Handel and Johann Strauss II performed by the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic and appreciated the orchestra members’ great virtuosity that widened their horizons and inspired them to practice harder.

The delegation visited the Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Kitara Hall in Sapporo. These two concert halls are considered the best in Japan and are also renowned in the world. Famous Chinese musicians such as Tan Dun， Lang Lang， Li Yundi and Chinese American Yo-Yo Ma have given concerts in the Suntory Hall.

Working staff gave the students a detailed briefing about the history and structure of the Hall and number and contents of performances， and took the students backstage so as to let them understand the whole procedure of a concert. They also arranged for the students to perform on the stage. The opera and flute solo performed by the students of the Central Conservatory of Music and chorus by the Minzu University of China won warm applause from those present.

Interaction with students of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music， Hokkaido and Hokusho universities enhance understanding

During their stay， the Chinese students interacted with students of several Japanese universities， and increased their knowledge and enhanced their understanding of Japan and the life of their Japanese peers. The Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music is the country’s top university of arts. During their visit， the Chinese students gave wonderful performances， while the Japanese side also gave performance of vocal and instrumental music. Everyone then joined together to sing the chorus We are the Future， pushing the exchange activity to an exciting climax.

Hokkaido University is a national comprehensive university with the largest number of Japanese students and the most complete disciplines. Members of its choir shared their experiences in choral work， showed the visitors around the campus that has European continental architectural features， and told them about Hokkaido’s unique natural landscape and cultural customs.

Hokusho University is a private university with distinctive features and a famous dance club. At the university’s activity center， Chinese delegation learned about Hokkaido’s traditional dance Soran Bushi. The Chinese and Japanese students were divided into three mixed teams and competed with one another， showing their youthful vitality.

Through the visit， the Chinese university students gained a better understanding of Japan， got closer to and formed sincere friendship with their Japanese peers. At the same time， through words and deeds， they displayed the graceful bearing of modern Chinese youth and through their youthful passion and professional accomplishments showed the image of maturing and confident Chinese young people.

Members of the delegation said， they would apply what they had learned and experienced from the visit to their future study and life so as to contribute to the prosperity and development of Chinese culture and arts and the friendship between China and Japan.