Music Students Perform at Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Several Shenandoah Conservatory music students were invited by graduate Chinese students to perform at a special Chinese New Year Celebration hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 28. Conservatory representatives included:
- Shiyu Chen ’23 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Flute)
- Sheila DuMont ’23 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Flute)
- Benjamin Paul Figgs ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance – Cello)
- Noah Alden Hardaway ’21, ’24 (Master of Music in Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Piano)
- Qiuyu Li ’24 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Voice)
- Chen Liang ’23 (Artist Diploma – Piano)
- Katarina Sams ’24 (Master of Music in Performance – Flute)
- Jian Song ’19, ’25 (Master of Music in Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Violin)
- Nicholas Whitley ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance – Violin)
- Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Dance Ting-Yu Chen ’19, Ed.D.
Participants were greeted by deputy chief of mission and minister Shirley Xueyuan Xu and staff, and visited with them as well as Chinese international student representatives from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas, including Song. These student leaders from various universities, in collaboration with the embassy staff, put together a program that included traditional new year temple fairs, a concert performance and dinner.
“I marveled at the level of talent and professionalism that the students exhibited to put together such an event,” said Dr. Chen. “It was so wonderful that the embassy provided a home away from home for so many Chinese students and their friends and professors to celebrate the Chinese New Year. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the embassy. The highlight was experiencing our conservatory students making beautiful music at the concert. I am totally biased, but Shenandoah musicians were outstanding!”
Shenandoah University Distinguished Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Anthony Miller, Ph.D., Shenandoah University Registrar Emily Hollins and her husband, Charlie Hollins, were also invited to attend the event.
