A Macao graduate student at the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing has been working hard to master various skills to integrate cultures and traditions of the mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region. Peggy Chan Pui Ian, a graduate student majoring in traditional Chinese musical instrument of Guzheng, shared her inspiring journey, her passion for music, and the way she celebrated the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN).
"I have been in Beijing for seven years. Beijing is a big city for me as I come from Macao. Macao is much smaller than Beijing in terms of population and area. But I think I have seen a lot in Beijing because there are many people from all over the world. As a capital, there are many opportunities in Beijing. So I have spent seven wonderful years in Beijing," she said.
According to Chan, to better link the mainland with the Macao Special Administrative Region, she delved deeply into local opera forms and traditional cultures, and followed famous teachers to improve musical literacy and professional capabilities.
"In Beijing, I have learned a lot about Chinese traditions, including operas and cultures from different places. I also learned composition from famous composer Ye Xiaogang, and then I combined these three things together. Afterwards, from my own perspective and with my unique way of growth, I wrote down what I wanted to express with musical notes," said Chan.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, Chan also went back to her hometown and participated in a special event for celebration and composed more works with her unique understandings.
"I went to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison stationed in Macao to perform in October with the cello section of the Macao Orchestra. In addition to performing their works, I also performed four songs related to the motherland I personally adapted," she said.
"About my works, I wrote a piece at the beginning of this year to mark the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, which is about the flourishing Tang Dynasty. Because I think the Tang Dynasty was a very glorious period in Chinese history, especially in culture, life and art. So I studied their culture and poetry, and wrote such a work as a tribute to the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland," said Chan.
Macao performer passes on Chinese culture with Guzheng
