On the evening of October 20th, the atmosphere at the Wenzhitang Hall on the Xuhui campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University was filled with the sounds of music and warmth. The “Warmth Between Shanghai and Taiwan: A Golden Autumn Concert” was held, co-hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Shanghai Zhongshan Cultural Exchange Association, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
This concert marked the closing event for the Huacan·2024 Shanghai-Taiwan cultural exchange activities and was the second collaboration between the Shanghai Democratic Progressive Party and universities from both regions following last year’s event. Notable attendees included Xu Yisong, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress; Pei Xiaoqian, Secretary of the Party Committee at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Hu Weiwei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and Zhai Jun, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Democratic Progressive Party.
Before the performance began, Xu Yisong, Pei Xiaoqian, Hu Weiwei, and Zhai Jun joined together to water the “Sap of Hope,” wishing for deeper cooperation and cultural exchange between Shanghai and Taiwan while exploring and promoting the rich heritage of Chinese culture.
In her welcome speech, Pei Xiaoqian emphasized that culture is the soul of a nation and a people. She stated that this concert was a significant step towards deepening cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two regions. The organizers are committed to upholding the principle of “Two sides of the strait as one family,” and will actively support musicians from both sides in broadening their collaborative efforts.
Over the course of two hours, artists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and National Tainan University showcased more than ten instrumental and vocal performances. The program featured beloved traditional pieces like “Jasmine Flower,” “Zou Xikou,” “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” “By the Water’s Edge,” and the “Yuan Huang Folklore Suite,” as well as region-specific works such as “Yao Nationality Dance” and “April Rain.” The audience was captivated throughout the performances, evident by the continuous applause filling the hall.
As the concert drew to a close, the audience, alongside musicians from Shanghai and students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s choir, united in singing “Descendants of the Dragon,” a heartfelt anthem resonating throughout the campus.
During an interview, Ye Minghe, a teacher from National Kaohsiung Normal University, expressed his honor at being invited to perform in Shanghai. “We brought ‘April Rain,’ composed by Taiwanese musician Deng Yuxian, to share with the audience here. We also enjoyed performances from the faculty and students of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a very meaningful cultural exchange between our regions.”
