Last Night, the Chunhui Music Festival Lit Up SUFE Campus – Students Sang Their Hearts Out!
On the evening of 24 May, the Chunhui Music Festival of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) kicked off with great enthusiasm at the basketball court in front of the comprehensive gymnasium on the Guoding Road Campus. The event also brought a perfect close to the 22nd International Cultural Festival, which had been running for nearly a month. The Chunhui Music Festival not only showcased a kaleidoscope of global cultures but also, at this special time of graduation season, presented an orchestral blend of music and heartfelt emotion as a deeply moving farewell gift to the Class of 2026 about to embark on their new journeys.
The festival opened with a stunning light show, and the rhythm of 'Stormy Youth' instantly ignited the atmosphere. International students from all over the world and their Chinese peers performed together on stage, breaking down language barriers with their voices and connecting world cultures through melodies.
From dynamic modern street dance to exotic performances rich in ethnic characteristics, from heartfelt covers of classic hits to energetic singing and dancing routines, the stage was a blend of light and passion, while the audience waved glow sticks, creating a dazzling 'SUFE EchoBay'.
The event was not only a visual and auditory feast but also a collective expression of 'graduation'. As a highlight of the music festival, the performance specially incorporated a graduation-themed segment, using musical notes to connect campus memories and creating a strong graduation atmosphere.
From the free-spirited original graduation song 'Congratulations to Myself' to the resolute 'Becoming the Adult You Want to Be', from the lively 'Green Light' to the passionate 'Run', like a longitudinal thread of youth, it connected the courage, confusion, striving, and reluctance of the four years of university. When the chorus of 'Later' rang out, eight performers on stage and thousands of audience members below completed an emotional resonance that transcended the stage. 'Hearing the line, ‘Later I finally learned how to love’, I was suddenly reminded of myself when I first entered university,' said a graduating student with tears in their eyes. 'This song is our youth.'
Notably, several programmes featuring collaborations between Chinese and international students presented a vivid picture of cultural integration on the SUFE campus, earning rounds of applause. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the multilingual performance of the original theme song of the International Cultural Festival, 'Together Under One Sky'. Six students from Fiji, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Italy, and Vietnam performed together, singing the melody of 'One World, One Dream' in relay, using multiple languages. The lighting shifted from warm yellow to colourful beams symbolising the world, while the glow sticks in the audience merged into a flowing river of stars.
Beyond the stage, a brand culture market jointly organised by multiple colleges and brands was also held. It featured both international elements and classics of traditional Chinese culture, allowing participants to experience world cultures while enjoying the stage performances.
Themed 'Boundless Digital-Intelligence, Youth in Harmony', this session of the International Cultural Festival has provided a broad platform for cross-cultural exchange among Chinese and international students through a variety of activities, including an international food carnival, cultural showcases from around the world, and interactive displays of digital-intelligent technology since its opening. As the multilingual version of 'One World, One Heart' resonated through the night and the graduation medley sparked a full-venue sing-along, this evening is destined to become an enduring starlight in the hearts of countless members of the SUFE community.
