Prof. Xiaogang YE

Founding Dean of School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
Renowned Composer and Music Educator
Member of the 10th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and a Member of the Standing Committee of the 11th, 12th, and 13th CPPCC National Committee
Vice Chairman, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles
Chairman, China Musicians Association
Professor, Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM)
International Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS)
International Chair in Composition, Royal Northern College of Music
Distinguished professor, Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Distinguished professor, Xinghai Conservatory of Music
One of the members of the first Talents Project selected by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, and an expert who enjoys a special allowance from the State Council
Representative Figure who plays a leading role in contemporary Chinese music

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

In August 2021, School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, also known as Shenzhen Conservatory of Music (Provisional) was inaugurated, becoming a new member of professional higher music education in China.

Planned by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and the Municipal Government, our school aims to build an international, innovative, and world-leading institution of music and arts. We adopt an innovative education model and have established undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs to cultivate international musical talents who are equipped with both academic and performing abilities and are competent to integrate Eastern and Western musical cultures, for the Greater Bay Area and the rest of the nation.

Our motto is "Specialize in Arts and Study Extensively; Aim High and Succeed by Actions", which expects every member of our school to be a musician or artist with excellent skills, broad horizons, humanistic quality, virtue, social ethics, the pursuit of the truth of arts and the common ideal of the society, and with national interests and the mission of the times in mind, for the nation and the people. We are dedicated to cultivating international, elitist, artistic, and versatile talents. "International" and "elitist" refer to pioneers with international perspective and competitiveness. "Artistic" refers to well-skilled musicians with aesthetic pursuits and creativity while "versatile" refers to advanced talents with artistic sensibility and theoretical rationality, who knows something of everything and everything of something.

Our vision is to cultivate skilled and moral musicians who are top-notch nationwide and worldwide. Through the creation and performance of the musical works transcending the times and nations, we can promote the development and advancement of musical culture, so as to facilitate the rejuvenation of the Chinese culture. Our goal is to build a scientific and systematic knowledge system of contemporary music in China that enjoys wide academic recognition and global impact so that a new form of professional music education can be created.

As the saying goes, "Rivers and mountains are changeless in their glory, and still to be witnessed from this trial". At this historic moment, as your founding dean, I would like to talk about my expectations for you based on the nature of music. Firstly, music is a practice-based discipline which means the key to the success of a musician lies in practice. Keep polishing your skills by practicing is the only way to become a great musician. Secondly, the key to music development lies in innovation. Music history witnessed constant style evolution, in order to produce classical works, we not only need to learn from classics but also inject new energy. Thirdly, music relates to humanity. Catering to human emotional needs is the prerequisite for excellent music creations. To be a musician for the people requires you to keep looking for the beauty and the truth in arts, and more importantly, to make people's voices heard through maintaining close ties with the people. Fourthly, as a part of the culture, classical music is the epitome of the spirit during a particular period and human wisdom. If you want to become a musician, you need to learn from all advanced cultures and achieve full understanding so as to explore a new music world while carrying forward classical ideas, just as the old saying goes, "Six Classics require me to blaze a new trial". Finally, music is concerned with ethics. Masterpieces reflect human's noble spirit. Remember, be a man before you become an artist and constantly enhance your virtue and moral awareness.

With perfect timing and favorable conditions, we are supported by the best national policies and funds, teaching environment, facilities, faculty and staff. As the "Second Sage" Mencius said two thousand years ago, "All things are complete in me", we need to achieve unity from now on. I hope every one of us has the sense of ownership and bears our motto and the awareness that you represent our school's ethos in mind. I wish everyone to forge ahead to build our school into the one which is well-acknowledged nationwide and worldwide, and which lives up to our families' expectations and national missions. I wish a new form would be established in our school and together, we can open up new prospects for professional music education in China.

Thank you.