Recently, the “Sing for the New Era” Choral Contest has been grandly held at the Aoxiang Student Centre on the Chang’an Campus of NPU. Using music as a medium, the event aimed to help faculty and students commemorate the great victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, foster a profound sense of patriotism, and showcase the vibrant spirit of youth in the new era. A total of 25 choirs from across the university competed on the same stage, using their voices to convey the power of youth and pay tribute to the spirit of the times.

After intense competition, the choir from QMES earned second prize with a total score ranking third for its performance of A Farewell Song.

Adapted from Tang-dynasty poet Wang Wei’s classic Farewell to an Envoy on His Mission to Anxi, the choral piece reinterprets the timeless farewell sentiment of the line “I urge you to empty another cup of wine; West of the Yangguan Pass you’ll see no more of mine” through modern musical techniques, highlighting the enduring appeal of fine traditional Chinese culture.

At the competition, the choir from QMES captivated the audience with its polished vocal technique and heartfelt expression. The performance employed rich multi-part harmonies to seamlessly blend the imagery of classical Chinese poetry with the dynamism of contemporary music. Throughout the piece, the harmonies shifted from gentle and wistful to soaring and impassioned, vividly conveying the poignancy of farewell and earning unanimous praise from both the judges and the audience.

Behind the outstanding result lay the dedication of both faculty and students. Over a month of rehearsals, choir members devoted their spare time to intensive practice, refining every note and lyric in pursuit of the best artistic effect. In addition, the school invited professional instructors to provide guidance. These instructors not only offered systematic vocal training but also explored the emotional depth of A Farewell Song, enabling the performers to capture the song’s expressive tone with precision.

The contest demonstrated the vibrant spirit and artistic accomplishment of students and faculty at QMES. Through this event, students strengthened their sense of identity with—and pride in—fine traditional Chinese culture. Building on this momentum, QMES plans to advance its aesthetic education initiatives, enabling more students to grow through hands-on artistic practice.

Text: Ma Xiaoxuan

Photo: Li Ruochen and Xu Caizhe

Editor: Chen Xinyan

Translator: Fang Jie

Reviewer: Cheng Yin