Menu
Guest Speaker：
Lishan Wu, an acclaimed Chinese violinist based in the United States, was honored with the “Outstanding Violin Professor” award by the Golden Key International Violin Competition. A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in violin performance, she previously served as a violinist with the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater and the Central Ballet Orchestra. She also worked as an English translator for the China Philharmonic Orchestra. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to pedagogy, with her students winning numerous awards at international violin competitions.
Marking the 130th anniversary of Xu Beihong’s birth, an extraordinary artistic feast that integrates painting and music, vision and sound—”The Chinese Symphony in Xu Beihong’s Brushstrokes” Cross-Disciplinary Concert—is set to premiere at the Shenzhen Concert Hall on November 14th. As part of this initiative, we launched the “Meishan Primary School Outreach” to bring a novel, interdisciplinary aesthetic education class to its teachers and students.
The event commenced with an opening address by Mr. Zhang Wenchang, Director of the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center. He vividly recounted Xu Beichong’s artistic journey for the students: from learning painting from his father at the age of eight, to teaching in his hometown at seventeen, being admitted to Aurora University at nineteen, and later pursuing further studies in France. He ultimately became the first president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, laying the cornerstone for modern art education in China. Director Zhang also announced that some pieces from this symphony had their world premiere at the Lincoln Center in the United States, making the upcoming Shenzhen performance their domestic debut.
The next segment featured Teacher Wu Lishan, who had previously performed the piano concerto “Xu Beihong’s Color-Ink Paintings” at New York’s Lincoln Center. She was joined on stage by Teacher Wu Lili for a collaborative performance. They opened with a captivating blend of violin and vocals in the classic piece “Prelude to Water Melody,” which captivated the young audience and drew warm applause.
Furthermore, Teacher Wu Lishan screened and analyzed a treasured recording of the piano concerto “Xu Beihong’s Color-Ink Paintings,” performed by Teacher Xu Fangfang, transporting everyone into the majestic realm of the symphony. She shared insights from “The Biography of Xu Beihong” by Liao Jingwen, the artist’s wife, reflecting on how Xu Beihong’s philosophy—that true artistry requires interdisciplinary learning to reach a higher level of comprehension—resonated deeply with her. She candidly revealed how the master’s artworks have profoundly shaped her own approach to musical expression.
This was followed by her violin solo of “The Butterfly Lovers.” As the music resonated from her instrument, its enchanting and melodious strains wove a spell, leaving the young audience utterly mesmerized.
Principal Liu Ruijuan thanked the artists for their brilliant performance and the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center for bringing this exceptional aesthetic education experience to Meishan.
The event concluded with an enthusiastic interactive session. The children asked questions with great interest, and Teacher Wu Lishan patiently answered each one, creating a vibrant exchange of ideas.
The entire event concluded amidst laughter and joy. However, the most touching moment occurred afterward. As the teachers exited the cafeteria after lunch, they discovered that the children had already spontaneously formed a long line, holding their notebooks and eagerly awaiting Teacher Wu’s autograph. This unprompted scene became the most beautiful proof that the event had successfully planted a seed of art in the children’s hearts.
