Chinese, overseas students connect through music at Beijing exchange

Students from the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley, joined their Chinese counterparts at Renmin University of China in Beijing on Wednesday for a cultural exchange centered on music and friendship as part of the 18th China International Chorus Festival.

The festival, which runs from July 13 to 20 in Beijing, has brought together more than 15,000 performers from 306 choirs representing across 31 countries and regions.

During the event on Wednesday, more than 70 students from the choirs of the two overseas universities performed the classic song Auld Lang Syne with RUC students, joined by the university's Party Secretary Zhang Donggang.

"It's a very special experience to come to RUC and sing together with the students and faculty here. Music is a universal language that allows us to cross cultural differences and truly feel connected to each other," said Morrison Euan from Oxford.

Oxford's Somerville College Choir is one of the United Kingdom's leading collegiate choirs.

The UC Berkeley Chamber Choir is a leading collegiate ensemble in the United States, winning the American Prize in Choral Performance (college/university division, small program) in 2022.

Following the performance, students from the three universities took part in traditional Chinese cultural activities, including calligraphy, Chinese painting and traditional Chinese medicine, as well as making lacquer fans and herbal sachets.

Asked what young people need most today, RUC student Yao Jingxuan said real, face-to-face communication.

Harry Yuan from UC Berkeley agreed, saying that "meeting face-to-face and sharing experiences together truly brings people closer."

Sherise Chan from UC Berkeley said choral singing is not just about singing a song together but about ensuring every voice is heard.

"Each voice part has its own timbre and expression. Only by listening to one another and coordinating can we come together to create a complete and powerful melody," she said.

Dawes Barnaby, an Oxford student visiting Beijing for the first time during his third trip to China, said the Chinese capital combines technology, everyday life and internationalization.

Asked about the biggest commonality among young people from different countries, he replied, "We all get nervous before performing — the five minutes backstage before stepping onto the stage are equally quiet whether at Oxford, Berkeley, or RUC. That shows we all spend a long time preparing for each song, hoping to present the best of our culture and to connect with young people from other countries."