Events

Transmitting culture through singing and building bridges with  music 

Grain rain is beginning to clear up, and the spring atmosphere is strong. On April  29th, the International Chinese Language Day “Soaring Chinese Elegance” Chinese  Singing Competition, hosted by the Tourism Confucius Classroom at UDG,  successfully concluded at the Entrepreneurial Nest of UDG in Montenegro. “Language is a flowing river, music is a leaping star." This event, celebrating the  United Nations International Chinese Language Day, attracted teachers and students  from multiple schools to participate. Through Chinese song performances, traditional  art performances, and cultural lectures, it presented a cultural feast that transcends  language and national borders to the audience. 

More than 100 people attended the event, including Su Tong, Second Secretary  of the Chinese Embassy in Montenegro, representatives of local Chinese enterprises  in Montenegro, Zhao Zhiyi, Director of the Montenegrin Office of the European  Times, Gao Qinglong, Chinese Director and all teachers of the Confucius Institute at  UCG, Dr. Marija Orlandić, the Dean of Chinese Studies, Fu Lili, Chinese Director of  the Tourism Confucius Classroom, Tamara Radinović, Director the Tourism  Confucius Classroom, teachers and students at UDG . 

Using songs as a medium sing the charm of Chinese language 

At the opening ceremony of the event, the host Marko Miler introduced the  cultural significance of International Chinese Language Day: the festival is scheduled  for the "Grain Rain" solar term on April 20th every year, which not only  commemorates the "ancestor of Chinese characters" Cangjie, but also highlights the  deep connection between Chinese language and natural time sequence. 

Dr. Marija Orlandić, Dean of the Chinese Studies, stated in her speech that the  University of Donja Gorica proudly celebrates the International Chinese Language  Day, honoring the linguistic and cultural richness that the Chinese language embodies.  This day holds special significance at UDG, as it symbolizes our strong and  long-standing cooperation with China – through partnerships with over 30 Chinese  universities, the establishment of the Confucius Classroom, and joint projects in the  fields of education, science, and innovation. We are especially proud of our students,  whose knowledge, interest, and dedication reaffirm the importance of these initiatives  every day. Their success and openness toward Chinese culture reflect UDG’s vision – to build bridges between nations and open the doors to the future through education.

In the subsequent Chinese singing competition, 12 finalists took the stage one by  one. They included not only students from primary, secondary, and tertiary schools,  but also professors from universities. They were both Chinese language learners and  young people who had never been exposed to Chinese but had a deep affection for  China. They conveyed their understanding and love for Chinese culture through their  singing. The classic golden song 'The Moon Represents My Heart', performed by  Elizaveta Vorobeva, is like moonlight pouring down, gently filling the entire room  with time; Ajša Rekovi ć's melodious voice fully interprets the profound lovesickness  of the ancient song "everlasting longing for each other"; The fusion of Chinese and  Western elements in the duet "Los Angeles" by Petra Knežević and Marija Jovanović ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience; The graceful opera style of "The Silk  Thread Play" sings the love story of puppets as a lament of the world; A song  expressing gratitude called "Listen to Me Say Thank You" conveys gratitude to the  people around me through singing; The nursery rhyme 'Little Star' has been  interpreted by multiple groups of contestants in different styles, making people feel as  if they have regained their childlike innocence; The resounding passion of "The Lone  Warrior", the inspiring spirit of "Invisible Wings", and the warm storytelling of "By  Your Side" allow the audience to touch the diverse pulse of Chinese culture through  the ups and downs of musical notes; With the melody of the Chinese version of 'Bella  Ciao' playing, it resonated even more with the audience present. The contestants won  rounds of applause from the audience with their superb singing skills, standard  Chinese pronunciation, and vivid stage performances.

Cultural integration, sharing the charm of the East 

During the break, the event specially arranged rich cultural experience segments.  Shi Xinwei, a Chinese teacher of the Tourism Confucius Classroom, showcased the  ethereal beauty of the traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng with the melodious  melody of "Fishing Boat Singing Tonight" and the classic melody of "Bella Ciao".

Subsequently, The Director Fu Lili gave a brief lecture on the theme of "The Four  Great Classical Novels of China". She cited Marco Polo's classic statement that  "Chinese music is not just notes, but also the breath of history, the pulse of poetry, and  the echo of dynasties," as well as Lin Yutang's classic discourse that "Chinese  characters are frozen music, and music is liquid poetry in Chinese." Through the Four  Great Classical Novels and their classic TV drama theme songs, teachers and students  were able to appreciate the charm of classic Chinese songs and feel the perfect  integration of Chinese poetry rhythm and music.

Arslan Vlahovliak, a representative of Tourism Confucius Classroom students,  shared his winter camp experience in China, bringing vivid cultural exchange stories  to the audience and allowing them to experience the profound significance of  cross-cultural communication. 

Finally, after strict evaluation by the judging panel from multiple dimensions  such as singing skills, Chinese pronunciation, and stage performance, the competition  results were officially announced. The Director Tamara Radinović announced the list  of winners on site: Ajša Reković won first place with her delicate and moving  performance, Elizaveta Vorobeva won second place with her sincere and touching  singing voice, and Petra Knežević and Marija Jovanović collaborated and performed  well, winning third place. The remaining contestants were awarded the Excellence  Award in recognition of their passion for learning Chinese and their outstanding  performance on stage. 

The event came to a successful conclusion with relaxed communication and food  sharing. The organizer expressed the hope that through such cultural activities, the  development of Chinese education and the exchange and mutual learning of Chinese  and foreign cultures can be further promoted. 

Conveying emotions through sound, connecting the world through music This " Soaring Chinese Elegance" Chinese singing competition is not only a  music competition, but also a cultural dialogue. The event showcases the beauty of  Chinese rhythm and the profoundness of Chinese culture through various forms,  providing an important platform for promoting cultural exchanges between China and  Montenegro and enhancing international friendship. As the host said, "Language may  have borders, but music and emotions are always connected." In the future, the  Tourism Confucius Classroom at UDG will continue to use language as a bridge and  culture as a boat to promote Chinese education in Montenegro.