Music brings students from China, Italy together in Beijing, Xiamen

The 10th edition of International Institute of Chinese Music Culture was held in Beijing and Xiamen, Fujian province, from June 28 to July 7.

Co-organized by the Central Conservatory of Music and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, a nonprofit professional educational institution for international Chinese language education affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education, the event gathered 21 students of music schools from Conservatorio Arcangelo Corelli di Messina, Italy, which marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy.

The first five-day programs were held in Beijing with teachers from the Central Conservatory of Music teaching students from Italy to play traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as suona, bamboo flute and sheng (a mouth-blown, free-reed instrument).

Professors, including composer Jia Guoping and musicologist He Kuanzhao, gave lectures on traditional Chinese music.

On July 3, the event moved to Xiamen, taking place at Huaqiao University with a series of programs, including introducing nanyin, one of China's oldest musical forms and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, at a teahouse in Quanzhou, Fujian province.

Carmelo Chillemi and Giuseppe Corpina, both from Conservatorio Arcangelo Corelli di Messina, gave lectures on Italian opera.

On July 4, a concert was held featuring students from China and Italy performing music pieces from the two countries.

The International Institute of Chinese Music Culture has gathered nearly 800 people from 74 countries participating in programs which were held in China and online, since it was first introduced in 2014.