Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

A MUSIC lecture series run by Shenzhen Concert Hall for the past 16 years was recently acknowledged by China’s Ministry of Education as an exemplary model for fostering lifelong learning.

To educate the public on classical music and encourage them to attend concerts, the concert hall initiated the weekly “Beautiful Sunday” free concert series not long after its opening in 2007.

A special part of this educational endeavor is the “Music Lecture Room,” a monthly session where distinguished musicians and educators share their expertise, transcending the mere boundaries of music to offer entrancing glimpses into literature, history and philosophy. Over 150,000 avid learners have graced more than 130 sessions, each one a melodic expedition through the depths of musical expression and cultural enlightenment.

Conductors Zheng Xiaoying and Zhang Guoyong, composer Ye Xiaogang, violinist Lyu Siqing and pianist Chen Sa have all stood on the podium of the concert hall to share their unique thoughts on music; many also tailored their lectures for local audiences.

Yang Yandi, musicologist and professor with the Harbin Conservatory of Music, curated a series of lectures on symphonies, guiding the audiences through the evolution of this splendid form of classical music, citing the works of masters from Beethoven to Mahler and Shostakovich. Bamboo flute and xiao (Chinese vertical flute) player Zhang Weiliang, pipa (Chinese lute) player Fang Jinlong and zheng (plucked board zither) player Chang Jing presented a lecture series that promotes Chinese music; while another series familiarized audiences with various music instruments.

Chen Gang, coauthor of the violin concerto “Butterfly Lovers,” recalled how he found inspiration for this renowned piece of work; pianist Lang Lang and violinist Lyu offered invaluable advice for music students while getting their points across with onsite performances.

The concert hall has also arranged for such scholars as Wang Yong, Zhou Haihong and Wang Jiyan to share their visions and thoughts on music. Through the lectures, audiences get a better understanding of musicians and various forms of music.

Su, who has been a fan of the series, said, “I attended the first lecture because it’s free and I happened to have nothing better to do one Sunday afternoon. Wang Yong, the lecturer that day, talked in such a humorous way that I got totally fascinated by classical music, which I had thought of as ‘out of my league.’ Since then, I’ve attended the lectures many times, and have been inspired by the magic of classical music.”

During the COVID pandemic, the concert hall reran the lecture series on online platforms including WeChat, Bilibili and Tencent Video, so that the contents could reach a bigger audience.

The concert hall’s effort to promote music among Shenzhen citizens has been rewarded with a growing number of fans. Wang Jiyan, a music critic who has lectured at the venue, was amazed at the fully-packed hall with more than 1,600 seats. “I never expected a young migrant city like Shenzhen would have such a large population of classical music lovers,” he said.

Apart from the “Beautiful Sunday” series, the concert hall runs another public benefit series titled “Afternoon Music Time” on Saturday afternoons. Its unwavering dedication to music education stands as a testament to the enduring magic of music, enriching minds and hearts, one note at a time.

This year, a total of 174 projects and 177 individuals nationwide have won the honor of “model projects in lifelong learning” and “lifelong learning stars” for their effort in fostering and pursuing lifelong learning.