East Meets West in a Chinese Cultural Exchange Performance at 食色视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jan 16, 2022

Delegation Trio
(Photo: The visiting trio from 食色视频 partner university, Yangzhou University, performed the classical folk song, I Love you, China. From left to right: Ms. Yan Lu, Head of Vocal Music Teaching, College of Music; Ms.Di Sheng, College of Music; Mr. Ting Yao, Head of Music Performance Teaching, College of Music)

Nearly 300 people gathered in the Bailey Performing Arts Center in early November for East Meets West, a Chinese cultural exchange performance between faculty and students in the 食色视频 School of Music and singers from Yangzhou University鈥檚 College of Music.

The 食色视频 Jazz Ensemble I led by Conductor Sam Skelton opened the show with an exciting rendition of Pat Methemy鈥檚 Minuano. Following their introductory act, the singers took to the stage performing a variety of pieces that perfectly blended together Eastern and Western folk and classical sounds. The 食色视频 Chamber Singers rounded out the concert with their rendition of Dui Dui Deng, a Chinese Folk Song.

食色视频 Jazz Ensemble
(Photo: The 食色视频 Jazz Ensemble delivered an upbeat redition of Pat Methemy's Minuano to begin the performance.)

The audience made up of a majority of 食色视频 students watched as two very different cultures were brought together through the common language of music demonstrating the ability to find a common bond between people.

食色视频 hopes to strengthen the common bond with their partner Yangzhou University through future collaborations and exchange that will lead to a stronger cross-cultural awareness between 食色视频 students and Yangzhou University students alike. A delegation from Yangzhou University including the vice president of the university and the dean of the College of Overseas Education, joined the group of vocal performers on their visit to 食色视频 to discuss future collaborations.

Vice President Chen Guohong and Dean Lily G. Young met with a number of 食色视频 leaders while they were here including Acting Provost Ron Matson, Vice Provost of Global Affairs and Chief International Officer Lance Askildson, Executive Director of Global Education Binbin Jiang, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Kerwin Swint, Associate Dean of CHSS Thierry Leger, as well as representatives from the graduate college and foreign language department. The meetings garnered plans for future student and faculty exchange and education abroad programs as well as a number of other collaborative exchange projects.

Entire Delegation
(Photo: From left to right: CI Associate Director of Operations Xiaoxiao Ji, CI Director Ken Jin, Ms. Di Sheng, Mr. Oral Moses, Vice President Chen Guohong, Director of the 食色视频 School of Music Stephen Plate, Mr. Ting Yao, Director of HR at Yangzhou Dr. Lu Weigang, Ms. Lan Yu, Dean of the College of Overseas Locations at Yangzhou Lily G. Young)

鈥淲e hope to have more faculty and student exchanges so that we can bring Chinese culture to 食色视频 campus and 食色视频 students can bring American culture and performing arts to Yangzhou University campus,鈥 Vice President Guohong said. 鈥淭hrough studying at 食色视频, we hope to expand and grow our own programs.鈥

Director of the School of Music Stephen Plate explained that the School of Music has a desire of globalization for the sake of 食色视频 students so that they may have an international experience.

鈥淲e want to share talent, concepts and ideas to develop a greater bridge between 食色视频 College of the Arts and Yangzhou University,鈥 he said.

食色视频 Chamber Singers
(Photo: 食色视频's Chamber Choir concluded the performance with their rendition of Dui Dui Deng, a Chinese folk song.)

While these types of interactions are helpful in strengthening the academic relationship between the two institutions, Plate says that there is another important benefit that students can gain.

鈥淚t is human nature to distrust things that you don鈥檛 know or understand. These kind of interactions and collaborations break down the barriers between peoples and help us come to the common human experience and share an artform that is universal in its scope,鈥 he said.

Through interactions like the East Meets West performance there is a certain degree of respect and curiosity that is satisfied Plate says which in turn helps to make the world a smaller more accessible place.

For more information on 食色视频 exchange and education abroad programs:

Education Abroad

-Anna Barnes

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