Peking University, May 3, 2012: Professor Naigil Osben of the University of Edinburgh, the famous European composer, music educator, musical neuroscientist and musical therapist, visited Peking University (PKU) on April 24. PKU President Zhou Qifeng welcomed him.

President Zhou, Prof. Osben and students

President Zhou welcomed Professor Osben’s lecturing on western music at PKU. He said that PKU and the University of Edinburgh’s cooperation in Arts was very important, for as cultural ambassadors, PKU students were responsible for introducing Chinese culture to the world by various means including music.

As an invited scholar of the Beijing Forum 2011, Professor Osben took the “Beijing Forum Night”–the closing concert of the Forum–as an example to show that academic studies and extracurricular activities mutually benefited each other and would eventually promote students’ further development. He said that PKU students performed impressively on that concert and reflected PKU spirit. “These ordinary student-performers opened the door for me to get to know PKU,” said Professor Obsen. Impressed by their performances, he accepted the invitation to be a consultant for the Chinese Music Student Club of PKU. Professor Obsen also agreed on President Zhou’s idea that the advanced development concept was the cornerstone of “a world-class university”. He also shared the idea that interdisciplinary education is invaluable.

Professor Osben improvised his English version of President Zhou’s popular original song “Chemistry is you, Chemistry is me”, which was once performed by President Zhou during Greater China Region’s activities for the International Year Chemistry. President Zhou was invited by Professor Osben to attend the Edinburgh International Music Festival. Student artists of the PKU Chinese Music Student Club also were also invited to join his music program “Music Silk Road to Scotland”.

Written by: Feng Xiaomang

Edited by: Liu Lu

Source: PKU News (Chinese)