Likes
South China Normal University's 2026 New Year Concert was held at the Concert Hall of the University Town campus on December 28, 2025. As a significant New Year’s Eve tradition, the concert was simultaneously streamed on line attracting nearly 200,000 viewers all around the world. More than 300 people, including school administrators, faculty and staff, representatives of students and alumni attended the concert in person.
On behalf of SCNU, Yang Zhongmin, president of South China Normal University, extended sincere New Year greetings to all faculty, staff, retired teachers, alumni and friends from all sectors who have long cared about and supported the university's development.
In his speech, he reviewed the university's progress in 2025 in expanding its educational institutions, and thereby contributing to the development of China’s capacity to deliver a powerful education system, improving the well-being of faculty and students. He emphasized that the university will continue to be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, accelerate the development into a world-class comprehensive and innovative university with distinctive teacher cultivation features, and contribute SCNU's strength to building a powerful education country and achieving national rejuvenation.
The concert kicked off with the Ode to the Sun performed by SCNU's Orchestra for traditional Chinese music, which instantly immersed the audience in a rich artistic atmosphere. The first half featured a diverse range of traditional Chinese music pieces, including Galloping Steeds, Fighting the Typhoon, Joyful Mood, Joyful Spring, Woman Flower, and Stepping Higher, concluding with Blossoms and a Full Moon.
In the second half, SCNU's Symphonic Ensemble, making its debut at the New Year Concert, performed works such as the March of the Steel Torrent, Tanzanian Dance, and the Anime Suite. Next, classic Chinese and foreign pieces like Evening in Moscow Suburbs, O Sole Mio, and Song of the Yangtze River were staged one after another. The encore performances, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 and the Thunder and Lightning Polka, were met with enthusiastic responses. The concert came to a successful conclusion with the entire audience joining in with the song Singing the Motherland in unison with the performers.
Source from SCNU News Center
Translated by Tang Ying
Proofread by Edwin Baak
Edited by Li Jianru
What to read next:
