Young pipa enthusiasts play their hearts out at summer camp

The annual Gateway to Arts summer festival brought one of its summer camps to pipa (China's traditional four-stringed lute) lovers.

This year's summer camp attracted 130 enthusiastic young pipa players from across the country. Over the course of two and a half days, participants not only honed their musical skills but also had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of Chinese traditional culture.

The summer camp wrapped up with a performance by the young pipa players at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing on Friday.

The summer camp has become a major event for youth interested in pipa and it provides a rare platform for young musicians to experience both individual improvement and collective musical collaboration. With master classes and ensemble rehearsals, the participants were encouraged to connect not only with their instruments but also with each other in a shared musical journey.

Zhang Hongyan, the founder and artistic director of the camp, also a veteran pipa player and a professor of the Central Conservatory of Music, expressed her pride for this summer camp.

"This summer camp is a dream come true for all of us, and it continues to bring together talented youth from across the country. It's not just about teaching music; it's about instilling a deeper appreciation for our culture and learning the joy of working together as a team," she said after the concert on Friday.