21/04/2025
(News From April 16, 2025)
🎶🌹The concert titled "Guzheng Poetry Across Times" was successfully held on the evening of April 15, 2025, at the Jockey Club Auditorium of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University!
This event was part of the 2025 Artist-in-Residence Program launched by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Cultural Promotion Unit, featuring renowned guzheng performer Dr. Zou Lunlun. The program facilitated academic exchanges, lectures, and music performances among university faculty, students, and the artist.
The Artist-in-Residence Program, which ran from March 18 to April 15, was structured in three phases to deeply integrate traditional music culture into the university setting.
- The first segment included a meeting with the artist through a demonstration lecture entitled "The Artistic Evolution of Traditional and Modern Guzheng."
- The second segment featured workshops.
- The third segment was the concert "Guzheng Poetry Across Times."
The collaboration between faculty and students of the university's Chinese orchestras, guzheng ensemble, and erhu ensemble, particularly under the esteemed guidance of conductors Mr. Wong Chi-wah and Mr. Gary Cheung Tsz-chung , along with Dr. Zou Lunlun, truly shone. Every member exhibited outstanding talent and dedication through diligent rehearsals and thorough preparations.
The concert on the evening of April 15 opened with "The Dance of the Golden Snake," followed by prominent pieces such as "Fishermen’s Joyous Return " and "Spring River, Flower Moon Night," which captivated the audience with the timeless charm of traditional music.
Throughout the themed program, a mix of ancient music, contemporary pieces, Western music, and modern compositions showcased the power of music and the rich expressiveness of the guzheng.
Invited artists included erhu masters Zhou Yi and Ruby Chan, young pianist Lisa Chen, guitarist Judy Hai, young guitarists Max Mares and Julian Li, and drummer and pianist Liza Tam, all of whom delivered remarkable performances at the concert's finale.
Zhou Yi and Ruby Chan's renditions of "Orchid Pavilion Preface" and "The Butterfly Lovers" resonated beautifully with the guzheng, demonstrating a graceful and nuanced melody accompanied by pianist Lisa Chen.
Among the Western repertoire, the Italian folk song "La Montanara " and the classic hit "Love You More Than I Can Say" were presented in a unique blend of Eastern and Western styles for their century debut. The modern band members, guitarist Judy Hai, Max Mares, Julian Li, pianist Lisa Chen, and drummer Liza Tam, joined forces with the guzheng performance, leading the audience into a captivating experience of contemporary music intermingled with traditional elements.
The poetic selection of musical pieces vividly reflected the theme of the concert "Guzheng Poetry Across Time." "High Mountain and Flowing Water" symbolized the definition of the Soulmates with attendees, while "Beautiful Grassland, My Home," led by Dr. Zou Lunlun and the university guzheng ensemble, immersed the audience in the natural beauty of Inner Mongolia through its enchanting melodies.
The concert concluded with the famous guzheng piece "Fighting with the Typhoon," a classic retained by Dr. Zou Lunlun, elevating the performance to a climactic finish under the accompaniment of pianist Lisa Chen .
Dr. Zou Lunlun personally performed, planned, and arranged the entire concert. As the Artist-in-Residence at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she successfully and perfectly conveyed the power of music, showcasing the university's comprehensive development philosophy encompassing morality, intelligence, physical ability, and aesthetic education.
Attendees of last night’s concert included Professor President Teng Jin-guang , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, representatives from the Cultural Promotion Unit, Vice Presidents Professor Wong Kwok-yin and Ben Young, members of the Board of Governors, and distinguished academy members including Dr. Rebecca Lee Lok Sze (the first female scientist from Hong Kong to explore the Antarctic Expedition).
President Teng delivered a speech and awarded Dr. Zou Lunlun with the university medal.
Professor Zeng Xiaohui, President of the Hong Kong Arts Research Institute and Founding Editor of the China Times, represented the media and cultural sector to attend and share insights with the artists, university faculty, students, and the president.
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