The GBA Dream, The Chinese Dream - 2023 GBA Concert Season Came to a Successful Conclusion
On December 13th, the "'Dazzling – Colors' – Ethnic Chamber Music Concert" concluded with resounding applause, marking the complete success of the GBA Dream, The Chinese Dream - 2023 GBA Concert Season.
The "GBA Dream, The Chinese Dream - GBA Concert Season" is a high-level, high-standard cultural exchange event in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Since the School of Music was founded in 2021, Dean Xiaogang YE formed a team and prepared meticulously for the event. The School was honored to host the 2022 edition, and the tradition continued in 2023 with the School of Music at CUHK-Shenzhen played a bigger role.
Prof. Xiaogang YE, Founding Dean of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen
Under the leadership of Dean YE, the School utilized its professional expertise and geographical advantages to curate a concert season that spanned history and culture, blending classical and modern themes, and highlighting both national and global perspectives, which demonstrated the School's commitment to its role as a leading institution in cultivating artistic talents in China. The season opened with the "Harmony's Delight - School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen Chamber Concert" on November 11th at the Shenzhen Concert Hall and concluded with the "'Dazzling – Colors' – Ethnic Chamber Music Concert" at Longgang Cultural Centre on December 13th, spanning 33 days with a total of 5 distinctive themed concerts. On November 28th, at the Shenzhen Concert Hall, the "The School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen [Shenzhen Conservatory of Music (provisional)] 2nd Anniversary Concert cum Concert to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen" became the highlight of the season, creating a memorable and vibrant conclusion to the series.
The season featured nearly 4000 audience across five performances, including symphonies, chamber music, and ethnic instrumental music, showcasing the diverse artistic charm of music. Each event was thoughtfully planned, integrating the Eastern and Western musical elements and enriching the cultural landscape of Shenzhen.
Audience at the Shenzhen Concert Hall
The success of the 2023 GBA Concert Season achieved several important goals. On one hand, it has introduced outstanding orchestras and artists based in the Greater Bay Area such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and Guangdong National Orchestra, allowing Shenzhen residents easy access to high-level artistic performances and the chance to experience world-class music up close. On the other hand, it showcased the talents and achievements cultivated at School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen over the past two years, enhancing the cultural depth of Shenzhen and leaving a unique Shenzhen mark on the cultural development of the Greater Bay Area.
As one of the cultural platforms for international exchanges in the Greater Bay Area, the 2023 GBA Concert Season carries significant missions and responsibilities. The School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, established two years ago, demonstrates its capability to shoulder such responsibilities, highlighting its high starting point in fostering cultural and artistic education in China. The School also plays an active role in facilitating East-West cultural exchanges, using music as a universal language to project a "Chinese voice" to the global art scene.
Audience at the concert
From the outset of the season, Prof. Xiaogang YE, the founding dean of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, emphasized the importance of both preserving tradition and fostering innovation within ethnic music, positioning Chinese culture and artistic identity prominently on the world stage. He remarked, "This concert season is not only about celebrating music but also paying tribute to this land where we live together — a place ideal for living, working, tourism, and business. This area represents a model of high-quality development and is one of the most open and economically dynamic regions in China, playing a key role in the country's strategic plans. This is the driving purpose behind the concert season, and we are confident in its potential to grow into a cultural brand and hallmark of this thriving area."
Dean Xiaogang YE delivered an opening speech at the concert
