The morning of the 16th saw Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) University Council Chairperson Guo Yurong and Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang bring the most talented pianist in China, Zhang Haochen, to SUSTech where he would sign on as a resident pianist for three years.
29-year-old Zhang Haochen has been performing on his own since the age of 5, where he hosted a solo concert in Shanghai. One year later, he headlined a concert with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, also known as K467. At 14 years old, Haochen was asked to take on the monumental task of learning Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in just two days to perform with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
At 15, he moved to the United States on a full scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was the only Chinese student admitted in the famously selective institution. When he was 19, he was the first Chinese and Asian winner of the Nancy Lee and Perry L Bass Gold Medal at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Li Fengliang spoke about the elegant arts being a reflection of human civilization, which provide profound artistic connotations along with strong educational functions. People can appreciate a piano performance not just for pleasure, but also to learn from its beauty. He hoped that Zhang Haochen and other artist-in-residences would be able to expand SUSTech’s cultural arts education and enhance the minds of faculty and students. Zhang Haochen and other artist-in-residences would ideally play an important role in improving the school’s liberal arts education and Li Fengliang looked forward to Zhang Haochen bringing more international artists to SUSTech.
Director Bi Baoyi of the SUSTech Arts Center said that artist-in-residences can effectively improve the overall level of art education at SUSTech by enhancing the comprehensive development of art and culture among the SUSTech community. She spoke with honor of Zhang Haochen becoming an artist-in-residence at SUSTech, whose youth and vigor will provide fresh blood and energy into SUSTech’s art education and development.
Famous Chinese pianist Dan Zhao-yi was also in attendance at the announcement. Having taught Zhang Haochen in the past, he said that the young man is not only a rare musical genius, but also an artist with thoughts, feelings, broad knowledge and rich cultural connotations. Dan Zhao-yi expressed his honor at the selection of Zhang Haochen as an artist-in-residence by SUSTech. He hoped that this would promote the integration of art and technology and deliver innovative results.
Zhang Haochen said that he chose to become an artist-in-residence at SUSTech for several reasons. His first reason was because of the special feelings he has for the city of Shenzhen. He won the International Piano Competition Award for the first time in Shenzhen and it is where his dream started, so he wanted to choose a university with Shenzhen’s innovative characteristics. Secondly, he has a deep admiration for scientific researchers, as they are the people that talk to him the most when he is touring the world. His appreciation for researchers’ attitudes for people and society led him to believe that science and art have a lot in common. Zhang Haochen hopes that his work will inspire more students in both art and science.
Visiting professor and famous composer Sun Guangjun presided over the signing ceremony. Director of the Office of Communications and Public Relations Zhang Ling and Secretary-General of the SUSTech Education Foundation Tu Ronghui attended the signing ceremony. Zhang Haochen played Nocturne and Wallet, two songs by Chopin, as well as the famous Chinese piece, Liuyanghe. Following the signing ceremony, Zhang Haochen answered many questions from enthusiastic fans.
During his three year term as a SUSTech artist-in-residence, Zhang Haochen will conduct a variety of different activities, including lectures, music sharing sessions, master classes and art development forums. All his activities will enhance and improve SUSTech’s international and innovative vision for art education on campus.
Following the formalities, Zhang Haochen sat down for an interview. He talked about how SUSTech would offer more opportunities than a traditional music university, which was an additional reason why he wanted to become an artist-in-residence at SUSTech. While there were no specific projects in mind for his three year term yet, he was excited about his time here. His deep appreciation for science and scientists was clear and Haochen hoped that his music would inspire them.
He had found that SUSTech was full of energy, and its youth creates an impression of freedom. Haochen wants to learn more about SUSTech while he is here.
He noted that people have a deep connection to music, which is why people always have a positive reaction to live performances. Haochen finds inspiration in every performance, but they come from different places, depending on the day. He reflected that this is the charm of music and as a result, music is extremely emotional.
Haochen was proud of his fellow pianists and musical artists who had broken through to the world stage. Not only had they enhanced China’s strength in music, but they helped breakdown regional prejudice and open up global attitudes. He accepted that there is still a way to go, but Asian artists are being accepted more and more across the world.
He spoke effusively about Dan Zhao-yi, who taught him while Haochen was in Shenzhen as a teenager. Haochen said that he had learnt a lot from Zhao-yi, and as an artist-in-residence at SUSTech, he would aim to be as good as his former professor. He accepted that while he was not as mature or experienced as his former mentor, it would not stop him from getting along with SUSTech students, in order to help them explore and improve in their fields, whether it was art or science.
