Concerts bring New Year magic to UK

A blend of voices filled the air as a choir of Chinese students and young professionals performed The Lights of China during a concert to celebrate Chinese New Year in London in early February.

The audience raised their phones to capture the moment, while some softly hummed along with the melody.

"The power of music transcends language," said one British audience member. "It allows us to truly feel the beauty of Chinese culture."

The 2025 Chinese New Year Concert was held at the Duke's Hall of the Royal Academy of Music, or RAM, on Feb 9, with support from the cultural sector of China's embassy in the United Kingdom and the Xi'an Culture and Tourism Bureau.

More than 30 young musicians from the RAM collaborated with the Divine Melody Choir, which comprises a group of Chinese students studying in the UK and young professionals from different areas, to present the concert. The event was hosted by New Elements Music and The Nine Songs.

More than 300 audience members, including Li Liyan, minister counselor for cultural affairs at China's embassy in the UK, and Dimitri Scarlato, area leader in Composition for Screen at the RAM, attended the celebration.

The concert opened with a symphonic rendition of Spring Festival Overture, igniting a festive atmosphere as the familiar melody resonated through the hall. This was followed by Dance of the Golden Snake, a performance symbolizing the arrival of the Year of the Snake in 2025.

The Chinese New Year Concert not only brought a sense of home and nostalgia to overseas Chinese, but also offered the British public a unique window into Chinese culture.

In Edinburgh, a Chinese New Year Concert was held by the Asian Association of Culture Commerce and Education in Europe, or AACCEE, on Feb 1.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the event, with musicians from China and Scotland coming together for a performance.

Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge and China's Consul General to Edinburgh Zhang Biao praised AACCEE's decade-long dedication to strengthening the friendship between China and Scotland.

The performance showcased a rich selection of Chinese and Western classics, including Spring Festival Overture and Chatterbox Polka.

As the entire audience joined in singing Auld Lang Syne, the concert came to a close.

The year 2025 also marks the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Edinburgh and Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. Guo Huijie, founder trustee and executive chairman of AACCEE, presented a student-made paper-cutting artwork from Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts to the mayor of Edinburgh. The piece featured landmarks of Edinburgh as well as notable Scottish figures who have made significant contributions to modern civilization.

Zhu Xueer contributed to the story.