Music for the soul

Welcome to the third edition of CUHK in Focus.

Music is the universal language of the soul. As pandemic restrictions ease, we are privileged to enjoy more live music events in person. It was uplifting to attend a special concert Concerto Italiano organised by the Italian Consulate-General earlier this month where the audience was treated to an enchanting and uplifting selection of Italian operatic overtures and arias, concertos and symphonies, and contemporary Italian music.

Music is a big part of life at CUHK too. It sings of our philosophy of whole-person education. Our Shenzhen campus is making a big effort here, with the establishment of its School of Music last year which spells exciting things for collaborations across the border. Music has also sustained many of our partnerships with the mainland throughout the pandemic, with our China Engagement Office’s recent online concert series Pleasure in the Pandemic connecting CUHK’s musicians with orchestras, choirs, and ensembles at our partner universities around the country.

With music, I offer you a segue into climate change which is the theme of this edition. Former Beatle Paul McCartney’s song Despite Repeated Warnings is a call to action for humanity to respond to the climate crisis. Thankfully, although its title suggests something gloomy and the song progresses with warnings over extreme weather events and the dangers of inaction, it finishes with an upbeat tone, and optimistically ends with the words ‘yes we can do it’.

Yes, I also believe we can! And universities have a big role to play. Universities around the world are stepping up to contribute to the sustainability of our planet by leveraging their research and education as well as making concrete commitments to reduce their own carbon footprints. CUHK is no exception. We aspire to play a major leadership role. As a civic university, we have a unique responsibility.