Shanghai, Oberlin conservatories seek closer ties

Shanghai Conservatory of Music President Lin Zaiyong met with Andrea Kalyn, dean of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and her assistant Fu Kai, from the United States, on October 19, 2016.

Liu Yan, deputy Party secretary of the SHCM, joined the meeting.

Lin said Huang Zi, one of the SHCM founders, studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and established a link between the two conservatories.

Kalyn briefed her hosts on the development of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and its various departments, saying her school wants to build a long-term relationship with the SHCM.

She suggested that Oberlin, Yale School of Music and the SHCM can each hold an event in 2017 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the SHCM and the 80th anniversary of Huang Zi’s death. She also invited SHCM officials, teachers and students to attend academic and art activities at Oberlin.

Lin liked her ideas and offered his suggestion that the two conservatories carry out cooperation in jazz, baroque music, composition and other majors.

He said the SHCM is considering offering the “Huang Zi Visiting Professor” program, inviting professors from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Yale School of Music to teach in Shanghai.

Lin said the SHCM may establish the Huang Zi Scholarship to support students and teachers to take part in short-term exchange programs at Oberlin and Yale. This is good for maintaining the conservatory’s historic link with Oberlin and Yale.

Zhang Wei, director of graduate studies, and Chen Xiaoyi, director of international exchanges, were present at the meeting.