SZ-HK Youth Culture Exchange Art Season closed in Shenzhen on June 18. During the 43-day event, youths from the two cities performed in nine art performances, attracting 10,000 attendees and millions of readers with extensive coverage from major media outlets.

Renowned Hong Kong musicians and orchestras including ukulele performer Keith Liu, cello player Li Chuiyi and Diocesan Girls’ School’s Symphonic Winds wowed audiences and won thunderous applause with their excellent performances.

Among the nine performances, some featured collaborations by musicians from the two cities.

For instance, Hong Kong composer Liang Haoyi’s re-imagining of the song “Legend of the Dragon” was jointly performed by Cai Sangzi Choir of Shenzhen University and Hong Kong Bachelor’s Choir.

As well, Li Chuiyi played “My Motherland” during the closing ceremony of the art season with Xu Xia, a main organizer and singer at Shenzhen Concert Hall.

“Art is the best channel to connect people’s minds. We should appreciate and learn from each other so that we can play harmonious music. And thank you to the organizers for offering such a great platform for the cultural exchange between Shenzhen and Hong Kong youths,” said Liu Jianghua, head of Home Affairs Bureau of Hong Kong.

Xue Zihao, a young violin player from Hong Kong, praised Shenzhen’s young musicians and its efforts to promote classic music. He also noted that the art season is of great significance and he looks forward to future cultural exchange events.

Cai Huiping from Shenzhen was amazed by Hong Kong’s relaxing music atmosphere and Hong Kong artists’ attitude towards art. “I was honored to perform with so many outstanding artists and I learned a lot from them,” she said, adding that she and other members would exchange tips during every rehearsal and they would pump each other up before the official performances. After the performances, they would exchange contacts and talk about future cooperation. “This event really strengthened the communication between youths from Shenzhen and Hong Kong,” she said.

Shi Xiangtao, a member of Shenzhen Experimental School Orchestra, worked with Hong Kong Diocesan Girls’ School’s Symphonic Winds on a performance, which he believed was very significant. “Although we only spent a short time together, our friendship will last forever,” he said.

The SZ-HK Youth Culture Exchange Art Season, which kicked off on May 6, was guided by the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Shenzhen Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and organized by the Communist Youth League of Shenzhen Municipal Committee. (Yang Mei)