CUHK-Shenzhen 2025 Concert: Echoes of Eleven Years, Melodies for a New Journey
On the evening of December 6, the 2025 Concert of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) was held at the Shenzhen Concert Hall. Professor XU Yangsheng, President of CUHK-Shenzhen, together with University officials, alumni from near and far, faculty, students, parents, and invited guests from all sectors, gathered to enjoy a grand artistic feast presented collaboratively by the CUHK-Shenzhen Chorus, Orchestra, Chinese Music Ensemble, representatives from all eight Colleges and the five affiliated schools of the CUHK-Shenzhen Basic Education Group, as well as special guest artists.
At the concert, Dorothy WONG, Director of the University Arts Centre, led the entire audience in a moment of silence for the compatriots who lost their lives in the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong. To help the affected residents overcome this difficult time, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen established the “Support Fund Project for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po” and solemnly launched a donation initiative to the audience at the concert. Since its establishment, the fund has received more than 4,400 donations, totaling over 1.25 million yuan. The fund is dedicated to supporting the disaster relief efforts for the Tai Po fire and will be used for emergency living assistance for affected residents, post-disaster reconstruction, and community safety improvements. The Education Foundation of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen will close the project on December 10 and transfer all donations in full to the “Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po” established by the Hong Kong SAR Government, to be used entirely for assisting affected residents and supporting related relief efforts.
The artistic program commenced with the Orchestra's majestic performance of Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 9, From the New World; Hong Kong organist Eric FAN then captivated the audience with Bach's Fugue in G minor and Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee. Mezzo-soprano Professor ZHU Huiling and jazz pianist ZHU Mang's ensemble followed, infusing the hall with emotion and energy through Caruso and Poi Poi Poi. The CUHK-Shenzhen Chorus enthralled listeners with the tenderness of My Song and the dramatic intensity of The Phantom of the Opera. A highlight was the powerful rendition of movements from Symphony No. 8 This Boundless Land — composed by Professor CHAN Wing-Wah, Associate Dean of the School of Music — performed jointly by the Chorus, Orchestra, Chinese Music Ensemble, and renowned artists Ricky YEUNG Wai Kit, SHA Jingshan, and NIU Yuhan, creating a resonant fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions. The atmosphere then lifted as representatives from all Colleges and affiliated schoolsjoined the Chorus in an uplifting performance of Try Everything from Zootopia, filling the venue with youthful vitality. The concert reached its poignant conclusion as esteemed tenor Professor SHI Yijie took the stage with the University's performing groups for a heartfelt finale of You've Been Thinking of Me, a tribute to national dedication, bringing the evening to a close.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen remains committed to nurturing students through aesthetic and cultural education. More than a celebration of artistry and community spirit, this concert served as a collective expression of the University's social responsibility and artistic sentiment. The University will continue to enrich minds through art, connect hearts through music, and compose the next movement of its inspiring journey.
