Sold out event leaves audience spellbound with musical celebration of Western and Chinese musical influences.
Di Xiao, musicians and dancers (Photo - Nicola Gotts)
Internationally acclaimed Chinese pianist Di Xiao took to the stage at the University of Birmingham with a talented company of virtuoso performers for a magical concert threaded with harmony and moonlight to welcome the Year of the Snake.
The highly-anticipated event at the Elgar Concert Hall, which sold out weeks in advance, left attendees spellbound, immersed in a musical celebration that featured a captivating blend of Western and Chinese musical influences.
The concert also marked the beginning of the University of Birmingham’s 125th anniversary year - a milestone celebrating the University’s legacy of driving change and shaping society.
We were honoured to welcome Birmingham’s Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to our celebration. This cherished annual event gives us the chance to bring together people from within the University and beyond to build bridges across continents, while offering an exciting insight into Chinese culture.
Opening the concert with Liu Yang River, a traditional Chinese dance with piano, Di Xiao and her guests transported the audience to the heart of China. Performers included ErHu player Ziyang Huang, singer and Guzheng player Kang Yang, pianist MengYao Guo, double bassist YuHan Ma, and the talented dancers of UK China Performing Arts (UKCPA).
Attended by Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Councillor Ken Wood and Lady Mayoress Mrs Barbara Wood, the celebration brought together people from within the University and beyond to build bridges across continents, while offering an exciting insight into Chinese culture.
Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (China) and Director of the China Institute, said: “We were honoured to welcome Birmingham’s Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to our celebration. This cherished annual event gives us the chance to bring together people from within the University and beyond to build bridges across continents, while offering an exciting insight into Chinese culture.
“The University extends its gratitude to Di Xiao and all the talented musicians who made this concert an unforgettable experience, captivating audiences with melodies that transcended borders.”
Di Xiao at the piano with dancer (Photo - Nicola Gotts)
The Lunar New Year concert was hosted by the University of Birmingham’s China Institute, which remains committed to nurturing connections, academic excellence, and creating opportunities for those keen to engage with China.
For the last 13 years, the China Institute has been weaving together strands of knowledge, creativity, and collaboration that connect Birmingham to China. From research partnerships with China’s top universities to municipal partnerships in Guangzhou, the Institute’s impact resonates far beyond its campus.
Outside of its Birmingham base, the University has extended its reach. In 2011, the Guangzhou Centre opened its doors, becoming a vibrant space for hosting activities in China, and a focal point for managing our network of partnerships across China.
But Birmingham’s relationship with China dates much further back than this, spanning more than a century. Founded in 1900, the University is proud to have fostered a global community of leaders and problem-solvers through our ambitious approach to education and research.
Unbound by convention, it has consistently pushed boundaries to address global challenges: building a thriving planet, advancing life-changing technologies, connecting cultures, improving global health, and fostering a fairer world.
In 1907, the University welcomed its first Chinese student — a historic moment that laid the foundation for enduring ties. Today, with more than 14,000 Chinese alumni, Birmingham continues to nurture these connections.
It is not just academics that bind these two cultures. Music, too, plays a harmonious role. In 1919, Birmingham’s famous geology alumnus Li Siguang composed the first original Chinese violin piece, Difficult Road (Xinglu Nan).
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The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
The China Institute is a central hub for Chinese interests at the University of Birmingham. Bringing together people, ideas, funding, research and academic excellence, we help create opportunities for those keen to discover what China has to offer, and play a key role in celebrating Chinese culture at the University.
Professor of Stem Cell Biology
School of Medical Sciences
Professor Jon Frampton, Professor of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham
