Shanghai Summer School

Students Jeffrey He and Jian Hao from the BA (Hons) Contemporary Music (Audio Technology) programme were awarded scholarships to participate in the “Shanghai Summer School 2019” at the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The summer school focused on Chinese Traditional Music and the scholarship competition was open to students worldwide. By participating in the “2019 Belt and Road Art Talent Training Program”, Jeffrey and Jian Hao received sponsorship for transportation, accommodation, meals and registration fees. During the summer school, the two students from the School of Arts collaborated with new friends from different countries including the United States, Russia, Indonesia, India, and South Korea and among others. As stated by Jeffrey He, “The major I chose was vocal music. In addition to letting me interpret Chinese folk songs, my teacher and professional performer also shared knowledge about vocal music, which gave me a deeper understanding of singing techniques. In addition to learning Chinese folk songs, I also learned Beijing opera. This was a rare opportunity for me to understand that Peking Opera is not only about singing, but also about movement, which was very challenging but very rewarding.” Additionally, the summer school arranged short trips to Suzhou and Yangzhou to experience local villages and learn about Chinese traditional culture.