In celebration of its 115th anniversary, the University hosted a special celebratory concert, ‘Dare to Dream’, performed by the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble (HKGDE) on June 11 at the Grand Hall, Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre.
In the foreword for the concert, Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, remarked, “For 115 years, HKU has remained steadfast in its motto – Sapientia et Virtus – fostering the preservation and innovation of Chinese civilisation with a global perspective. Dunhuang, an internationally renowned symbol of Silk Road civilisation, stands as a vivid testament to the harmonious blending of diverse cultures. This spirit of openness and inclusivity mirrors HKU’s own dedication to diversity, with both serving as enduring testaments to the vitality of cultural exchange.”
The HKGDE was founded in 2018 by HKU alumna and Honorary University Fellow Ms Leonie Ki. The memorable evening was officiated by Professor Peng Gong, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) at HKU, and featured performances alongside guest performers, including Mr Sunny Yeung, Director of Estates at HKU and Professor Ricky Yeung Wai-kit, Honorary Advisor of the HKGDE.
The specially curated concert led the audience on an extraordinary cross-temporal journey through the splendour of the Silk Road and Chinese culture. By breathing new life into ancient murals and transforming millennium-old whispers into celestial music, the Ensemble guided the audience from Dunhuang to the Forbidden City and onward to museums, offering a profound opportunity to experience the resonance of a millennia-old culture. The musical feast also bore witness to HKU’s 115-year legacy of bridging East and West, its relentless pursuit of academic excellence, and its grand vision of leading an infinite future.
HKU has a deep academic, artistic, and cultural relationship with Dunhuang – from its cherished relationship with Professor Jao Tsung-I, University Laureate and pioneering figure in Dunhuang studies; the preservation of Professor Jao’s research and artefacts in the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole at HKU; the popular Common Core course ‘Dunhuang and the Silk Road: Art, Culture and Trade’; through to the ‘Dreamlike Dunhuang: Recreating the Grandeur of Dunhuang’ exhibition which drew a huge crowd to the Main Library last year, just to name a few.
