On March 24th, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission held the 39th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival—an excellent performance of selected programs by Shanghai university students—at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Opera House. Themed "Cultivating Patriotism and Nurturing Enterprising Spirit," this event brought together nearly 1,000 teachers and students from 18 teams from 10 universities that made it to the finals of the 7th National University Art Exhibition. As the only university in the city with three teams selected for the finals, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) sent its student choir, dance troupe, and wind orchestra to present a rich array of original cultural works.
The SJTU Student Choir, directed by Zhang Qin, performed an a cappella mixed choir piece titled "Flowers, Not Flowers," with lyrics by Bai Juyi. This piece is part of Professor Lin Hua's collection, "New Songs from Ancient Scores." The music uses hazy harmonies to depict the ethereal mist of flowers, reflecting on the fleeting nature of spring.
Guided by Liu Zhongfen, Shen Kaiyu, Liu Ran, and Ma Huixia, the SJTU Student Dance Troupe presented an original dance titled "Seaweed Blossoms." Inspired by President Xi Jinping's concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," a dedicated group at SJTU has made it their mission to protect Erhai Lake and its ecosystem for over twenty years. Their relentless efforts have restored the once-polluted lake, allowing the long-lost seaweed flowers to bloom again. This dance was created and choreographed based on the experiences of Professor Kong Hainan's team from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering.
Under the direction of Wu Yibo, the SJTU Student Wind Orchestra received enthusiastic applause for their performance of a selection from the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana." This one-act opera, composed in 1890, is one of the most artistically captivating works in the history of opera and a hallmark of Italian verismo. The wind orchestra's arrangement of scenes from "Cavalleria Rusticana" showcased a variety of musical passages, enhancing their repertoire and exploring new artistic styles.
Following this focused performance, the SJTU Student Art Troupe, led by dedicated faculty from the School of Humanities (Art Education Center), will prepare for the upcoming 7th National University Art Exhibition in April. They aim to showcase the impressive achievements of SJTU's aesthetic education, sharing the artistic charm of SJTU students and promoting aesthetic education culture to a broader audience.