Crosscurrent concert brings East-West musical dialogue to Cardiff University
18 December 2025
On November 25 2025, the Cardiff Confucius Institute and the School of Music co-hosted Crosscurrent, an evening concert that blended traditional and contemporary Chinese chamber music with performances by Cardiff University musicians.
The concert featured a diverse programme ranging from Silk & Bamboo Ensemble classics to modern compositions, including works for erhu, guzheng, pipa, dizi, Nanyin voice, and piano. Guest performers included Cardiff University’s Zhuo Yue (Nanyin pipa, vocal and double bass) and pianist Ana Beatriz Ferreira, who collaborated with the ensemble on several pieces.
Opening the event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner praised the collaboration as an example of Cardiff University’s global civic mission. She highlighted the role of cultural exchange in fostering understanding and strengthening international partnerships, particularly the long-standing cooperation with Xiamen University through the Cardiff Confucius Institute.
Cultural exchange is not an optional extra for us; it is central to our mission as a global civic university. Art and culture can bring people together in ways that are hopeful, joyful, and deeply human.
Professor Peng Zhou, University Dean of International and Director of the Cardiff Confucius Institute, added:
Music is a language, and probably the most powerful one to unite people who speak different languages and come from disparate cultures. In a world where differences sometimes feel sharp, music can remind us of our shared humanity.
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Professor Peng Zhou
Professor of Economics, University Dean of International, Director of Confucius Institute
