On May 10, the 2025 “Yu” Symphony in the Forest Youth Concert filled the Youth Park lakeside with romance and melody. Members of the student symphony orchestra from 23 different schools across the university dedicated themselves to vigorous practice outside of their academic work, bringing the audience an audio-visual feast through their passion and professionalism.

The first movement featured the rousing “Der Freischütz Overture” by German composer Carl Maria von Weber, instantly energizing the venue. James Horner’s “The Ludlows,” from the American film Legends of the Fall, followed with its soulful melody weaving a deep, moving story. Selections from the Chinese classic “The Red Detachment of Women” suite—”Military and Civilian Gala,” the gentle “Wanquan River,” and the stirring “Changqing’s Sacrifice”—showcased the unique charm of Chinese national music.

In the second movement, Guo Wei, French horn instructor from the School of Arts, impressed with a masterful performance of the first movement of “Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major.” The familiar notes of “Princess Leia’s Theme” filled sci-fi fans with excitement. European symphonic classics such as the first movement of “Symphony No. 1 in C Major” and “Waltz” from the Swan Lake suite highlighted the depth of the genre. The show reached a climax with “Genshin Impact: Liyue Theme” infused with Chinese flavor, followed by a stirring performance of “My Motherland and I.”

“This concert was amazing. As graduation approaches, hearing such a wonderful performance brings back so many memories of my four years at university,” shared one audience member. “The art education center’s events just keep getting better. I hope to see more like this in the future,” said another, reflecting the widespread love for the concert.

Against the backdrop of campus-wide arts education, the Art Education Center continues to explore innovative paths for aesthetic education in practice. In April, the center held its second meeting of the Arts Education Advisory Committee in the student community, reaffirming its commitment to bringing high art into everyday campus life and perfectly integrating it with the campus environment, nurturing artistic appreciation in every corner of the university.

Written and Edited by: Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng