On May 29, 2024, Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) celebrated the 40th anniversary of its management school's restoration with a captivating music concert on Monday evening. The event, held at the Wenzhi Hall on the Xuhui campus, featured a special performance by the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concert brought together over 800 attendees, including Lai Hongkai, Chairman of the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Fang Yi, Director, and Huang Xiaofang, Secretary General of the Board, as well as SJTU's former Vice President Sheng Huanye, former Deputy Party Secretary, Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, and Deputy Director of the Committee for Caring for the Next Generation Hu Jin, among other distinguished guests, faculty, students, and alumni.

 Conductor Dong Luping from Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra

Young conductor Dong Luping led the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in a carefully curated selection of over a dozen pieces, taking the audience on an immersive journey through the origins and aspirations of SJTU's economics and management disciplines. Western classical works such as "Academic Festival Overture" and "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2 - Toccata No. 4" were juxtaposed with iconic Chinese compositions like "Red Mountain Flowers" and "Grassland Female Soldier," evoking patriotic sentiments and the spirit of SJTU's motto, "Gratitude and love for the country, honor for the school."

The concert also featured memorable film and television soundtracks, including "Harry Potter" suite and "The Swordsman," as well as energetic pieces like "Mambo" and "Brazilian Hot Dance," symbolizing the vitality of campus life. The innovative "Internet Symphony 'Hero'" paid tribute to the innovative spirit of Antai's faculty and students by cleverly intertwining the themes of "music" and "transportation."

Conductor Wu Yibo, Associate Professor at the School of Humanities

A unique highlight of the evening was the collaboration between 30 students from the SJTU Student Symphony Orchestra and the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the baton of Wu Yibo, Associate Professor at the School of Humanities, the combined ensemble delivered a moving performance of "The Red Detachment of Women" suite and the classic piece "Jasmine Flower," bridging generations and regions through shared musical experiences.

 Xu Yaoxin, Mentor from School of Materials Science and Engineering

The concert also paid homage to the legacy of Li Shutong, a cultural pioneer and outstanding alumnus who studied economics at Nanyang Public School, the predecessor of SJTU, from 1901 to 1902. The Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra's rendition of the symphonic version of "Farewell," a song with lyrics written by Li Shutong in 1915, seamlessly blended his spirit with modern musical artistry, resonating across time and space.

ACEM Building Light Show

As the concert drew to a close, the facade of the Bao Zhaolong Library came alive with a dazzling light show, illuminating the grand history of the economics and management disciplines and painting a bright future for Antai. The light display, set to continue until June 15, serves as both a tribute to the art of symphony and a reflection of Antai's aspirations for a better tomorrow.