On May 17, Chinese and international students from the Shanghai Music Conservatory visited a residential community in Pudong to put on a concert called “Slow Sound, Object Collection: Pop Reimagined Through a Dialogue of Chinese and Western Instruments.” The event blended traditional Chinese music, pop music, and cross-cultural exchange, giving local residents an immersive musical experience. By bringing together students from different cultural backgrounds, the concert brought youth-led artistic practice into people’s daily lives, making public cultural services truly accessible to the community.

Yudhistira Angga, a doctoral student from Indonesia, played the djembe and led an improvisational performance at the concert. He opened the show with a lively, infectious rhythm. His drumming quickly energized the crowd and helped residents relax and get into the music.

“This community concert was very unique,” Angga said. “The theme was really interesting. Musicians from different backgrounds and with different styles could all come together here — to communicate, to feel, and to play their own music. Whether it was Chinese, Western, or a fusion of both, everything fit together naturally.”

“Being able to perform my own music and connect with the audience through sound — that’s when I truly felt how music breaks down barriers and brings people together,” he continued. “This whole experience was fulfilling and warm. I feel truly happy and thankful.”

Lee Hong Ye, a master‘s student from Malaysia, performed on the saxophone. He played classic pop songs like “Love Like a Tide” and “Red Beans,” bringing familiar melodies into the community space. As he played, many residents softly sang along. 

“As an international student in China, I felt honored to bring my saxophone music to the neighborhood through this concert,” Lee said. “For me, this was more than just a performance — it was a real way to connect with the local culture. With the energy of ‘Love Like a Tide’ and the gentle flow of ‘Red Beans,’ I tried to build a bridge between myself and the Shanghai community.”

“Studying arts management, I’ve learned that true art isn’t distant or out of reach — it comes into people’s homes and daily lives, like a soft spring rain,” he said. “I’m grateful for this chance to take art into the community. Seeing the warm, honest smiles of the uncles and aunts in the audience made me feel at home.”

In a community space, a concert is less about formal performance and more about real connection between people. Residents come as they are — going about their daily lives. There were elderly people and young children. Some stopped out of curiosity and ended up staying for the whole show.

In addition to the music, the event also offered an interactive music and cultural creative experience. Visitors could use NFC technology to save their favorite songs and take them home as a “sound memory.” After the concert, many residents stayed to try it out and showed strong interest in the combination of music, technology, and creative design.

The creative design also incorporated elements of the instruments used in the concert. The organizing team created a series of music-themed items around the idea of “a little rabbit holding different instruments” — including the djembe and saxophone. This turned the sounds and images from the stage into something people could carry, collect, and share, further strengthening the connection between the residents and the performance.

The International Education College of the Shanghai Music Conservatory encourages its students to take their art beyond the campus and into the community. This event was a great example: Chinese and international students came together, connected with local residents through music, and showed how art can serve everyday life.

Source: Shanghai Music Conservatory