On the evening of December 2, the choral concert “A River of Voices”, part of the 18th “Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fruits” National Exhibition of Outstanding Art Performances by Higher Education Institutions, was held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Selected through a rigorous process, the Choir of Xi’an Shiyou University made a splendid appearance, earning high praise from experts and audiences alike, and showcasing the latest achievements of the University in aesthetic education and arts education.Leaders attending the concert included Zhang Mu and Cheng Yongqing,Deputy Secretariesoftheschool CPCCommittee, Vice President Zhang Juntao, and renowned Chinese conductor Professor Wu Lingfen. Also present were alumni representatives in Beijing, leaders from China National Petroleum Corporation, Sinopec, CNOOC, PipeChina, and more than a thousand guests from various sectors who support the University’s development.
During the performance, the Choir centered its program on northern Shaanxi folk songs, a form of national intangible cultural heritage. Through the expressive language of modern choral art, the Choir performed ten works with strong regional characteristics, includingThe Yellow River Boatmen’s Song, Zou Xikou（Going tothe West Gate), and Even Immortals Can’t Stop the Longing for One’s Beloved. These works vividly demonstrated the original vitality and cultural depth of northern Shaanxi folk music, highlighting the harmonious integration of traditional folk songs and contemporary arrangements, and realizing the “living inheritance” of intangible cultural heritage.As the highlight of the evening, the newly arranged choral version ofI Devote Petroleum to My Motherland, a classic work carrying the collective memory of generations of petroleum workers, was revitalized through choral reinterpretation. When the familiar melody resonated throughout the concert hall of the NCPA, the soaringXintianyoustyle merged with the resolute petroleum anthem. This powerful moment not only embodied the heroic spirit of northwestern Chinese culture, the dedication inherent in petroleum culture, and the heartfelt patriotism of serving the nation through energy development, but also served as a vivid artistic expression of the University’s educational philosophy, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
To ensure the high artistic quality of the performance, Choir members and instructors undertook a dedicated field study in northern Shaanxi prior to the concert. At the Yan’an Literature and Art Memorial Hall and the former site of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts, they deeply reflected on the fundamental principle that “literature and art serve the people.” In Wen’an Post Station, they experienced the expressive power of northern Shaanxi culture and art; at the Folk Song Museum, they studied the evolution and artistic characteristics of northern Shaanxi folk songs; at Longwang Temple, they immersed themselves in the tender and lyrical local melodies; and along the Yellow River, they encountered the rough, sonorous boatmen’s work chants, engaging in a profound dialogue with the soul of the Loess Plateau. These experiences were fully infused into their performance on the NCPA stage, ensuring that “songs from northern Shaanxi” truly flowed from the heart and became vibrant anthems of the times.
Professor Wu Lingfen, Renowned Conductor and Chief Conductor of the NCPA Chorus, Gives an On-site Masterclass
On-site Teaching at the Northern Shaanxi Folk Song Museum
In recent years, the University has adhered to the philosophy of “educating through aesthetics and cultivating people through culture,” making sustained efforts to strengthen aesthetic education. Rooted in the rich, multiethnic cultural and artistic soil of northwest China, the Xi’an Shiyou University Choir draws inspiration from the musical and dance traditions of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, the Silk Road, and the Yellow River Basin. Guided by the inheritance of red revolutionary music culture from the Shaanxi–Gansu–Ningxia region and petroleum industrial culture represented by the “Iron Man Spirit,” the Choir uses song to convey civilization and compassion, and music to tell China’s stories.To consolidate its artistic foundation and enhance professional standards, the University has invited Mr. Zhao Jiping, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association, renowned composer, and Distinguished Professor of Xi’an Shiyou University, to serve as Artistic Consultant. Professor Li Qiang, a young and accomplished conductor, serves as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. The guidance of these leading experts has injected strong professional momentum into the Choir’s artistic development, stylistic formation, and talent cultivation.
It is reported that this year’s “Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fruits” exhibition, themed “Displaying Artistic Brilliance, Forging Aspirations into Lasting Achievements,” was jointly organized by the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the China Association for Science and Technology. The event brought together top art institutions such as the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, Wuhan Conservatory of Music, and Shenyang Conservatory of Music, serving as a national-level platform for showcasing achievements in aesthetic education in higher education.As a non-arts university, Xi’an Shiyou University stood out with original works deeply rooted in the petroleum industry and regional culture, fully demonstrating its educational commitment to “advancing toward beauty” and highlighting the new achievements it has made in promoting the high-quality development of aesthetic education.
