On Nov. 1, 2021, the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen held its first concert at Shenzhen Concert Hall. The concert, in collaboration with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, which is also the school’s art practice base, featured the school's all-star faculty.
As the most important teaching and artistic practice of the School of Music, the first concert demonstrated to the audience the abundant teaching resources and top performance abilities of the institute.
The School of Music is one of the "Ten Major Cultural Facilities in the New Era" planned and built by the Shenzhen Municipal Government. With the goal of cultivating outstanding talents equipped with both academic and performance abilities, the school has established innovative training modes for musical talents and an international training system that offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
"As the first school of music born from the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, I believe its academic prestige and artistic standards will attract global attention," said Ye Xiaogang, founding dean of the School of Music, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
"I share my experiences in my professional career and life with my students through music. I think it's very important to impart this knowledge and experience to the students. At the same time, I think it is also based on this premise that we will have a better vision and expectation for the future," said Yuan Fang, renowned pianist and professor of the School of Music.
The campus of the School of Music is located in the International University Park in Longgang District. It's expected to be officially put into use in 2024. There are plans to build an opera house, a concert hall, and a music technology center.
Classes at the School of Music are taught in both Chinese and English, and other language courses such as Italian, German and French will also be offered. In the future, the School of Music plans to offer undergraduate programs in dance performance and postgraduate programs in art management, dance performance and more.
At the beginning of each academic year, the school will launch a season of performances, which will set an international top standard stage benchmark for students, and create more opportunities for students to perform and practice their art.
"In the first semester, we have an elementary course to learn Italian pronunciation. Then we have another course focusing on the literature of vocal music. Most of the time, my class is like a talk show because I hope that we can have a peer-to-peer communication platform with the students, where they don't feel that there’s a gap between teachers and students," said Li Biao, tenor and lecturer of the School of Music.
The fall 2022 enrollment will soon begin, with specialties including vocal music, piano, violin, musicology, music composition and theory of composition technology. Students will receive a full range and high level of training here, and upon graduation will be able to take on positions in performance, teaching and research, and music management.
"This year, we plan to enroll 40 freshmen. As for graduate students, we will enroll around 60 people. Students from all main conservatories of music may come to take the enrollment exam. Here we have created a joint study program for bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. And there is a requirement for English," said Jin Zhenhong, associate dean, professor and academic leader for Chamber Music of the School of Music.
"Over the years, Shenzhen has made a continuous effort to prosper in culture and art. Now we can stand on the shoulder of the city and contribute more to its cultural development. I believe the school will enjoy a great future," said Ye.
