On the evening of June 11, the opening ceremony of the 17th International Culture and Arts Festival of Jilin International Studies University (JISU), together with a symphony concert, was held at the Student Activity Center. Chinese and international faculty and students gathered together to enjoy a feast of high art.
The International Culture and Arts Festival is the highest‑standard, largest‑scale, and most influential international cultural exchange event at JISU, jointly conceived, planned, and organized by all faculty and students. It constitutes an integral part of the university’s ideological and political education, aesthetic education, practical teaching, and campus culture development. Serving as a platform for cultivating students’ language application skills, professional practice abilities, cross‑cultural communication competence, and innovative capacity, the festival has played a significant role in deepening professional understanding, enhancing cultural appreciation, broadening global perspectives, and promoting interdisciplinary and cross‑specialty exchanges. It has become a branded course for professional practice, a key initiative in fostering cultural and ethical progress, and an important vehicle for nurturing distinctive campus culture.
The 17th edition of the festival is themed “Embracing Global Harmony Through Cultural Elegance, Blossoming Together Through Shared Heritage.” Guided by the philosophy of “diverse mutual learning and education through practice,” it uses art as a bond and culture as a vehicle to help students broaden their international outlook and enrich their cultural foundation. The opening ceremony featured a special performance by the Orchestra of Changchun Film Studio, conducted by young conductor Sun Bote and led by concertmaster He Nan, presenting a spectacular audio‑visual fusion of Chinese and Western classics to the entire university community.
The concert opened with the Carmen Overture, Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op.39, and Waltz No. 2, whose elegant and majestic Western melodies immediately ignited the atmosphere. This was followed by stirring renditions of iconic film scores from The Legend of the Fall and Pirates of the Caribbean, whose dramatic rhythms recreated cinematic classics and showcased the grand power of symphonic music. The orchestral piece My Chinese Heart resonated with profound and heartfelt emotion, evoking a deep sense of patriotism that moved the audience.
After the instrumental pieces, vocal performances brought warmth to the stage. Young singer Liu Ting delivered heartfelt renditions of In the Fields of Hope and Vast Land, praising the country’s prosperity with her clear voice. Xing Chengbang performed a hauntingly beautiful Ocarina and Orchestra piece titled Hometown Scenery, whose ethereal melody was both soothing and evocative. Singer Xiao Feng tenderly sang Empty World and Light, conveying gentle strength through delicate vocals. The classic orchestral adaptation of The Sword and Dream was powerful and stirring, evoking the chivalrous spirit of the martial arts world.
The finale was filled with warmth and patriotic sentiment. Singer Chen Nailiang performed the beloved grassland folk song Swan Goose, its distant melody brimming with ethnic charm. The orchestral renditions of I Love You, China, Good News from Beijing to the Border Villages, and My Motherland were played in succession, their majestic harmonies expressing sincere love for the motherland. The concert concluded with a lively and spirited encore, the Cancan, bringing the evening to a joyous close.
Egyptian faculty member Wang Jianhao remarked, “Tonight’s concert was truly beautiful. When the music started, I felt both calm and excited inside. There were Chinese pieces and foreign pieces. Although I am a foreigner, melodies need no translation. I could understand their joy and their depth. What I loved most was the moment when the orchestra played together — more than ten musicians, over ten different instruments, yet producing one unified sound. It reminded me of our university: people from different countries, students from different majors, can also come together to create something beautiful. Melodies have no borders, just as our friendships have no borders. I will remember this evening for a long time.”
Fang Shiya, a student from Class 2401 of the Chinese Language and Literature program at the School of International Communication, said, “This was truly a music‑infused ideological and political lesson. The melodious tunes and spirited singing showcased the unique charm of musical art. Immersed in it, I not only broadened my horizons but also experienced the cultural richness of different countries, growing through cultural exchange and mutual learning.”
It is reported that the 17th International Culture and Arts Festival will last for one month, featuring a series of special segments: the opening ceremony and symphony concert, the “Colorful Earth, Shared Future” Global Village Open Day, cultural forums, the “Languages Connect, Civilizations Coexist” exchange and learning lectures, student club cultural performances, a series of signature Chinese and international cultural events, and the closing ceremony gala. Activities include the Top Ten Singers Competition and the Multilingual Dubbing Contest to fully showcase students’ talents; professional events such as Shakespeare Drama Performances, the Intercultural Communication Simulation Contest, and the “Poetry in Painting” Chinese and Foreign Poetry and Art Exhibition to stimulate academic enthusiasm; and special lectures by renowned scholars and experts to strengthen cultural confidence and foster patriotic sentiment. The festival also features the World Multicultural Knowledge Contest and the Global Village Open Day, helping students broaden their international perspectives and set the goal of “learning foreign languages well, being exemplary Chinese citizens, and telling China’s story effectively,” so that they may become envoys and bridges for Sino‑foreign cultural exchange.
Notably, this year’s festival incorporates themes related to the 33rd Winter Universiade to be held in Changchun in 2027. Through events such as the “Chasing Dreams on Ice and Snow, Blooming Youth, Art Together Towards the Future” student club performance, the “Ice and Snow Genes in Folk Customs” bilingual intangible cultural heritage lectures, and the World Ice and Snow Culture Exhibition, Chinese and international students will be able to experience the charm of ice and snow art and culture firsthand.
Source: School Communist Youth League Committee
