This autumn, the Chengdu University College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts (CCAA) successfully held its annual International Culture and Arts Exchange Festival. From October 28th to November 14th, the college transformed into a vibrant global stage, welcoming renowned artists, soloists, and academicians for a rich program of concerts, masterclasses, lectures and exhibitions.

The festival provided invaluable exposure for our students and became a significant cultural event for the wider Chengdu community. Music lovers filled our halls night after night, creating a series of nearly packed, electrifying performances that celebrated artistic excellence and cross-cultural dialogue.

The concert series stood as the heart of the festival, featuring a stunning array of repertoire performed by our international faculty, guest artists, and talented students.

Concert Series Highlights

  1. French Impressionists: Debussy & Ravel
    CCAA International Faculty
    An evocative journey through French Impressionism, featuring performances by Isaac Ormaza Vera (Violin), Ümit Işgörür (Cello), Wilson Chu, Christine Utomo, Pavel Raykerus, and Erlinda Teoh (Piano) Highlights included Debussy’s La Cathédrale Engloutie, Cello Sonata, Rachmaninov Cello Sonataand Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2.
  2. The Magic of Movies
    A delightful evening of beloved film and stage melodies, performed by Ümit Işgörür (Cello) and Wilson Chu (Piano). The program spanned Ennio Morricone’s classics, themes from Schindler’s Listand Evita, and a special Lion Kingmedley.
  3. Global Harmonies: International Student Gala
    A vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, showcasing students and faculty from Turkey, Ecuador, Russia, Serbia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. The program blended Serbian folk dances, Tchaikovsky romances, Chinese folk songs, and a heartfelt Turkish cello quartet.
  4. Violin Odyssey: From Beethoven to Schoenfield
    A dynamic recital by Equadorien artists Isaac Ormaza Vera (Violin) and Aaron Ormaza Vera (Piano), traversing three centuries of music from Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 8to Paul Schoenfield’s jazzy Four Souvenirs.
  5. Chamber Music Masters: Cello Sonatas
    A profound exploration of chamber repertoire by both Indonesian Artists Bryant Gozali (Cello) and Christine Utomo (Piano), featuring sonatas by Saint-Saëns and Mendelssohn, alongside Bartók’s vibrant Romanian Folk Dances.
  6. Virtuoso Strings: Paganini’s 24 Caprices
    A breathtaking display of technical mastery by violinist Chingiz Osmanov (Russia), who performed the complete set of Paganini’s legendary 24 Caprices.
  7. Piano Spectacular: Liszt’s Transcendental Études
    Pianist Phu Koanantakool(presented a powerful recital dedicated to one of the most formidable works in the repertoire: Liszt’s complete 12 Transcendental Études.

Visual Arts Exhibitions

Complementing the musical performances, the festival also featured two compelling visual art exhibitions from our Design Department:

  • “Colorful Wings” by Imke Lohman (Germany)
  • “Tales of an Imagined Home” by Alex Close (Canada)

This year’s festival not only highlighted extraordinary individual artistry but also powerfully embodied the spirit of international collaboration that defines the CCAA community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all performers, students, faculty advisors, and organizers for creating a truly memorable and inspiring celebration of global arts and culture.