Every year, as the new year begins, the wonderful musical date between the Eurasia Choir and the Xi'an citizens arrives as scheduled.

On the evening of January 10, the 2024 New Year Concert of Xi'an Eurasia University was held in Xi'an Concert Hall. More than 1,000 Xi'an citizens and friends from all walks of life who care about the development of Xi'an Eurasia University watched the wonderful performance of Eurasia Choir, listened to sounds of growth, and envisioned a beautiful new year through music.

Growth: Symphony of Music

This year's concert showcased nine diverse programs, encompassing classic choral pieces that blend Eastern and Western styles, alongside an original musical recently honored at the 7th Shaanxi Province University Student Art Exhibition. The rich variety of performances offered attendees an enchanting visual and acoustic feast.

(Fig. 1) 2024 New Year Concert of Xi'an Eurasia University

"Cast aside all worries and sorrows, do not fear or panic. Like the flowers by the roadside, bloom courageously and fearlessly..." The song Tomorrow heralded the dawn like the first light of day, warmly ushering in joyful New Year's greetings. On a cold winter's night, the melodious harmonies of Sing Community, Sing Peace resonated in the air, with fresh hopes nestled within a love for music and a longing for freedom. The romance of winter extended beyond this. It was found in moments of tranquility, by the red clay hearth, listening to the gentle sounds of Snow Falling. Fragments of life's memories were awakened, gradually fostering an understanding of the preciousness of our encounters and the beauty of love and life.

Humanity, nature, and life are eternal themes of music, transcending time and place. Unfolding the ancient poetic scroll of The Roadside Mulberry, mulberry trees, wildflowers, and flowing streams gracefully came to life. The image of the beautiful and clever mulberry-picking maiden, celebrated in song for millennia, once again shined brightly. As time and space shifted in an instant, the audience followed the cheerful rhythm of The Lion Sleeps Tonight to the vast African savannah. They quietly slipped into the dreams of Simba, the Lion King, traversing the forest, playing hide-and-seek with dappled shadows, and witnessing his journey from cub to adulthood.

(Fig. 2 and 3) Invisible Blow, an original musical

Friendship and dedication are the keys to attaining the true essence of happiness. In the musical Invisible Blow performed by the University Student Art Troupe, when the passionate and enthusiastic Rongrong found herself lost, the companionship and support of her family provided her with immense strength, helping her to rediscover her path forward. Eleven students performed this emotionally charged play with sincerity, bringing to life its dramatic twists and turns, pervasive warmth, and omnipresent depth. Optimism and resilience, coupled with extending care to others, led to a happy growth within reach.

(Fig. 4) Faculty Choir singing Velvet

The heartfelt rendition of Velvet softened the passage of time, while the majestic performance of As Boundless As The Sea And Sky electrified the entire audience... As the familiar classic melodies played, people were transported back to the era of their burning youth. In So Many People in This World, unforgettable people and events touched our hearts—him, you, and me. It was the warmth and love in this world that endured, leaving no regrets. The choir's emotionally nuanced singing shone with a unique brilliance, as the audience gently waved their phone flashlights and sang along in unison, creating a splendid interplay of lights between the stage and the spectators. In this moment, love, enjoy, and cherish the present.

(Fig. 5) During So Many People in This World, the stage and the audience shone together, illuminated by a myriad of lights.

Growth: Passion and Love

As a choir composed of university students from non-music majors, many members participate in the New Year's concert for the first time each year. From being unable to read the staff notation to gradually becoming familiar with sheet music and then proficiently singing songs in various languages and styles, the choir members, driven by their love for music, have delivered one spectacular concert after another for the audience.

(Fig. 6) Zheng Gongqi, the current president of the vocal ensemble

(Fig. 7) Li Hanmei, the member of the vocal ensemble

During the interview of the performance, whether it was the current president of the vocal ensemble, Zheng Gongqi, or the ensemble member from Hanzhong, Li Hanmei, they both spontaneously mentioned the keywords "interest" and "passion" when recounting their growth within the University Student Art Troupe.

Most students in the vocal ensemble had never performed on stage or taken professional vocal lessons before coming to Xi'an Eurasia University. They joined the choir simply because they loved singing since childhood. Under the guidance of their teachers and through daily training, everyone could stand on stage and shine brightly. Within this big family of art troupe, everyone has also forged genuine friendships and developed a strong aspiration for the future besides advancing their musical knowledge.

The faculty choir, composed of 27 teachers, graced the concert stage for the first time this year. Youth community instructors, faculty members from various schools and administrative departments, and even dormitory supervisors from the student apartments were among them. Wang Fang, a dormitory supervisor at West Dormitory 1, loves singing but never imagined she would one day stand on the concert hall stage. Starting from December 18, 2023, and lasting for over 20 days, Wang Fang and the other teachers rehearsed for over two hours every Monday and Wednesday evening at the Students Activity Center. "The moment I stepped onto the stage, I felt incredibly proud!" Recalling the performance, Wang Fang still felt deeply moved. Her children were also in the audience watching her performance that evening. After working at Xi'an Eurasia University for more than five years, Wang Fang has experienced the school's profound humanistic care. She looked forward to future opportunities to sing on stage.

(Fig. 8) 2024 New Year Concert of Xi'an Eurasia University

"Though we might encounter difficulties and challenges at times, we persisted in our dreams and beliefs, using the power of music to move and inspire more people. Now, I love music and the stage even more, and I cherish and appreciate the time spent with everyone." After the performance, vocal ensemble member Chen Dacheng posted this on his WeChat Moments. Their passion drives them to continue singing with unwavering focus.

Growth: Journey Alongside Time

From 2018 to 2024, Xi'an Eurasia University has hosted five concerts at the Xi'an Concert Hall. Over the years, the choir members have changed with each new term, and now, more than 350 individuals have graced the stage of the concert hall. Every year at this time, many former members of the choir gather here, either cheering and applauding for their late-comers from the audience seats or participating in the choir's performances as friends. Their love and dedication to their alma mater, music, and choral singing converge into the spiritual imprint that belongs to the choir bit by bit.

(Fig. 9) Ji Yipu, student conductor of the 2018 New Year Concert and head of the 11th vocal ensemble

(Fig. 10) Li Zhuohang, head of the 15th vocal ensemble

"Diligence, perseverance, tolerance, sensitivity..." These are the choir's spirit imprints in the heart of Ji Yipu, one of the university's 2019 graduates and the 11th president of the vocal ensemble of the University Student Art Troupe. In 2018, during the first New Year's concert, Ji Yipu was the student conductor. This year, as he stood on the concert stage for the third time, singing and looking at the young faces around him — both unfamiliar and familiar — his journey with the choir came vividly to mind: "In the beginning, we walked on the musical bridge laid by our seniors; we were the people on the bridge. Later, we became the bridge itself, with our younger late-comers walking on it. Listening to their singing, we have become the flowing water beneath the bridge... Over time, that musical bridge has become broader and stronger."

This time, like him, Li Zhuohang, the 15th president of the vocal ensemble and a 2022 graduate, also returned specifically to participate in the performance. Every day after work, Li Zhuohang rushed back to the school for rehearsals. He hoped to give back as much as possible of what he had learned in the art troupe to his younger peers. They rehearsed and grew together.

(Fig. 11) 2024 New Year Concert of Xi'an Eurasia University

For Ding Yuhao, a youth community instructor at Xdea, growth alongside time carries an entirely new interpretation. This year, he transitioned from the president of the art troupe who was responsible for coordinating the 2020 concert to a member of the faculty choir. Transitioning from student to teacher, from backstage to center stage his passion for the art troupe remains unchanged though his role has changed. Coincidentally, two members of the choir are his students. "Every time before going on stage, I give them a handshake and encourage them, "Fate is truly remarkable. Back in 2018, I could never have imagined that one day, right here in this place, I would perform on stage alongside my students and my teachers," said Ding Yuhao. Today, he also channels this passion into his role as an instructor, assisting more students in discovering their own romance and distant scenery.

(Fig. 12) Chairman Hu Jianbo delivering a speech

Passion, relay, inheritance — students of the choir accompany each other on their musical journey through time. As Chairman Hu Jianbo stated, "Life, work, and art are an integrated whole. By taking things slowly, we can truly understand our inner selves." By giving life to time, life will experience confident, vigorous, and abundant growth. The significance of the New Year Concert lies in enabling more students to relish the joy of growth and to feel the inspiration and strength of life.

(Fig. 13) Group photo of school leaders, teachers, and students of the choir

"The New Year Concert may seem to have concluded, but it has not. We eagerly anticipate next year, many years to come, and the years beyond," vocal ensemble member Mao Ziyan pledged on Moments, making a promise for the future. Music transcends itself. Accompanied by music, we embarked on this year's journey of learning, work, and life together. We eagerly anticipate our reunion next winter!

(Contribution by Li Xiaofei from Brand Communication Department; Figures by Wang Gang, Li Zengwei, and He Jiayue)