The 26th Qi Yue Recitation Art Festival and National College Students' Recitation Contest’s Exhibition of Excellent Works and Famous Scholars' Recitation of Famous Pieces Successfully concluded on the evening of November 16. This event was directed by the Department of Language Application Management, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China; Cares for the Next Generation Working Committee, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China; sponsored by the National Language Promotion Base (The Communication University of China) and Chinese Collegial Association for Visual Art (CCAVA); and organized by the Broadcasting and Anchoring School of Communication University of China and Committee of Radio and TV Hosts of CCAVA.
Attendees of the event include Gao Changli (Head of the Television Drama Division, National Radio, and Television Administration), Wei Kaipeng (Level I Bureau Rank Official of Division of Personnel, National Radio and Television Administration); Yao Xishuang (Executive Deputy Director of Cares for the Next Generation Working Committee, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China; Member and Secretary-General of the Pronunciation Review Committee of the State Language Commission; National Education Inspector; Doctoral Director at the Communication University of China), Jing Yidan (an alumnus of Class of 1976 of the Communication University of China, Director of Announcing at China Media Group and famous show host), Tuo Yingxiang (Deputy Director of the Publicity and Education Division, Department of Language Application Management, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and Level II Investigator ), Liao Xiangzhong (Secretary of Party Committee, the Communication University of China) and Liu Shouxun (member of the Standing Committee of Party Committee, and Vice President of the Communication University of China).
2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, and the first year to implement the Outline of the Plan for Building China into a Leading Power in Education. This gala features the theme of "Progressing and Reciting in the Light" to implement and follow up on the spirit of President Ji Jinping's important letter addressed to all the CUC faculty and students and make new contributions to the development of the Party's ideological and cultural endeavors. At the event, students from universities across the globe and of various ethnic backgrounds, alumni working in frontline media, and recitation artists were invited to share the stage. Through innovative expressions of vocal language art, they inspire contemporary youth to deepen their cultural roots and ignite their creative vitality in cultural innovation.
For the opening act, students from the Broadcasting and Anchoring School of Communication University of China staged a situational recitation titled "The Oil Lamp of Youth". Through a transcendent dialogue spanning time and space, it ingeniously integrated the revolutionary spirit of Li Dazhao, a renowned revolutionary leader in China's early communist movement, with the ideology of modern youth, portraying the unwavering pursuit of ideals and boundless aspiration for a bright future among generations of young people.
Dai Yi, a host at Beijing Radio & Television Station, and Ouyang Annan, a student at the Broadcasting and Anchoring School of Communication University of China, delivered an innovative interpretation of "You Are the April of This World" through a unique blend of recitation and singing, expressing their passion for life and hope for the future.
Three students at the Broadcasting and Anchoring School of Communication University of China joined hands with six Tibetan children to present "Chinese Youth", depicting the images of youth from different territories and backgrounds, showcasing their patriotism and aspirations for a brighter future. The performance demonstrates the school's commitment to education in ethnic minority regions and its responsibility to promote and popularize the national common language and script.
Qu Xianhe, chairman of the jury and a renowned recital artist, joined his wife, Zhang Junying, who is also a renowned recital artist, to recite "To the Oak & Ketch", ingeniously blending two classic works by Shu Ting. Using their voices as a medium, they took us into a profound and enchanting poetic realm.
"A Kaleidoscope of Voices—Dubbing Performance", featuring Zhang Zhen and Li Longbin, seasoned professionals in the dubbing industry and outstanding alumni of Communication University of China, covers a diverse range of dubs from costume drama "the Rise of Phoenixes", documentary "Aerial China", animated film "Zootopia", and TV drama"Dream of Youth". This program, created and performed collaboratively by faculty and students, highlights the diversity and innovation of the art of dubbing.
"China in the Lights", a choral performance by a group of 25 female professors from the Professor Choir at Communication University of China, showcased the artistic elegance and charm of female professionals with warm, loving voices, while also conveying educators’ deep love for their country and their aspiration for a better life.
In "Faces in the Crowd", Li Lihong, a renowned voice actor, brought us vividly into the bustling marketplace, allowing us to experience the hilarious and thought-provoking tales of the eccentric characters created by Feng Jicai alongside them.
The recitation of "a Hymn to Light" conveyed the pursuit of life, freedom, and truth, as well as the resistance against oppression and darkness. Three past winners of the Qiyue Award, namely Amu Gulang, Bai Luyao, and Chen Tiefu, along with eight current students, showcased the warmth and power of light and embodied the spirit of the Qiyue Award.
In this evening event, representative award-winning works from prestigious institutions such as the Communication University of China, Beijing Language and Culture University, Institute of Disaster Prevention, and Jilin University of Arts were showcased, transporting the audience back to the intense finals from the previous day. Through verbal language, young students appreciated the timeless charm and contemporary value of classic culture, displaying their youthful vitality and individual charm.
The 26th Qi Yue Recitation Art Festival and National College Students' Recitation Contest’s Exhibition of Excellent Works employed a combination of live streaming with images and text, as well as video live broadcasts, to offer a new immersive experience for online audiences. According to the statistics, the live streaming with images and text attracted nearly 250,000 page views. The final competition and exhibition of excellent works were live-broadcast on CUC's app, WeChat Video Channel, Tiktok, Kuaishou, and Xuexi.cn, with over 400,000 live viewers and more than 1.6 million likes. Multimedia live broadcasts enriched the audio-visual experience of online audiences and elevated the coverage and impact of this festive to the next level.
This event received 1,341 entries from 322 colleges and universities across 30 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions, setting a new record for both school coverage and entry number. Following the preliminary selection, 100 works qualified for the semifinal round, demonstrating the immense enthusiasm of young people in the new era for conveying cultural voices and sounding the clarion call of the times. On November 12 and 13, the semifinal round of the recitation contest kicked off. After rigorous evaluation by the judging panel, 25 works stood out and qualified for the grand final. On November 15, the grand final commenced as scheduled. Jury members for this round included Qu Xianhe, Li Ruiying, Liao Jing, Ran Di, Zhang Shurong, Xu Tao, Li Lihong, Zhang Yuanyuan, and Li Yan. After careful deliberation by the judging panel, the Communication University of China's Tales of Hulan River emerged victorious, clinching the Qi Yue Award.
Since 1997, the Broadcasting and Anchoring School of Communication University of China has initiated and hosted "the Qi Yue Recitation Art Festival" since 1997, to honor and perpetuate the fine traditions of China's older generation of broadcasting artists represented by Professor Qi Yue. The festival has now reached its 26th edition.
On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 70th anniversary of the Communication University of China, the Qi Yue Recitation Art Festival and National College Students' Recitation Contest respond to the new demands of the new era for socialist literature and art and keep exploring new approaches to express classic works. As the art of articulate speech continues to be inherited and developed, the Qi Yue Spirit serves as the beacon for upcoming generations of young people to voice for the people and the times, inspiring the youth to pen magnificent chapters of socialist art and literature in the new era through their voices.
(Editor: Wu Xinyan)
