In the golden autumn breeze, the campus rings with music and song; a new movement begins, and drea…
In the golden autumn breeze, the campus rings with music and song; a new movement begins, and dreams set sail. As a landmark educational achievement in implementing the China–Russia Joint Statement and the consensus reached by the two heads of state, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at Chongqing Normal University (CQNU) has reached a defining milestone at the very start of its journey. On September 12–13, 2026, the inaugural class of undergraduate students arrived, drawn by music, gathering on the CQNU campus—marking the official opening of the educational chapter of this international platform for cultivating musical talent, and a major breakthrough in the university's international cooperative education.
The University's leadership attached great importance to the orientation work, establishing a steering group headed by Wang Guoyin, Secretary of the CPC Committee and President of the University, with Huang Yongyi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Vice President, serving as executive deputy head. With the Conservatory as the lead coordinating unit, more than ten functional departments—including the Party and Administration Office, the Publicity Department of the Party Committee, and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange—pooled their efforts. Together they formulated a meticulous and comprehensive work plan for the inaugural student registration, clarifying responsibilities across all posts. Through multi-party coordination and concerted effort, high-standard and detail-oriented services ensured that the first cohort of new students arrived safely and settled warmly into their new home.
Melody painted the scene; elegance greeted the newcomers. The main venue was set in the grand hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at CQNU, with five functional zones laid out across the space: an atmospheric signature and photo area, an efficient and orderly registration area, an art-infused exhibition area, a quiet and comfortable rest area, and a convenient luggage-storage area—together providing one-stop, whole-journey orientation services. Thirty young volunteers wove through the crowd, greeting every aspiring student with warm smiles—carrying luggage, guiding the way, and answering questions—their volunteer service playing the warm "concerto" of the orientation season.
The Conservatory adopted gold and brown as its keynote, drawing on classic musical symbols—the swan, the musical note, and the staff—to craft an immersive artistic scene for the newcomers. Trees before the building were adorned with dynamic musical-note installations, their lively figures unfurling in the breeze; a handprint signature wall preserved the youthful imprint of the first cohort; the instrument display wall, themed achievement posters, and suspended musical-score installations complemented one another—every step revealed a scene flowing with the romance of classical music. In the grand hall, screens played treasured footage on loop: masterclass recordings, the cruise concert, and the Conservatory's unveiling ceremony—unrolling a scroll of Sino-Russian musical fusion through light and shadow. Inside the dormitories, each bed card corresponded to its student, and on every desk quietly lay a copy of "A Letter to the First Undergraduate Students of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at Chongqing Normal University"—brief in words yet profound in feeling, carrying the Conservatory's earnest charge to its pioneers. The dormitory common areas were dressed with welcome banners and colorful arrangements, letting students immerse themselves in the unique warmth and artistic character of the Conservatory.
With music as a bridge, school and family nurture talent together. The Conservatory carefully staged a series of signature themed events, building channels for deep dialogue between school and family, teacher and student. At the faculty meet-and-greet "Gathered at the Conservatory, Nurturing Talent Together," Vice President Huang Yongyi, the Conservatory's management team, and representatives of the Russian faculty gathered in the Conservatory's exhibition hall. The Russian faculty representatives shared their stories and took the stage to perform, as Chinese and Russian musical thought met and resonated—giving the new students and parents a tangible sense of the unique appeal of international education. The campus tour "First Encounter: A Shared Stroll Through the Campus" set off in groups, with new students and parents tracing the campus through the Conservatory's buildings, the piano rooms and rehearsal halls of the Arts Building, and the University History Museum, reading the depth of CQNU's heritage as each turn revealed a new view. As night fell, Conservatory leaders and counselors visited the new students' dormitories, showing attentive concern for how they were settling in, listening to their thoughts and hopes, and delivering the campus's first gesture of care.
It is noted that the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at Chongqing Normal University represents the first time in the 160-year history of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory that its complete talent-training system has been exported overseas through a cooperative education institution. As the Conservatory's first cohort, these students are both beneficiaries of Sino-Russian cultural exchange and, still more, the pioneers, witnesses, and authors of the Conservatory's history. Riding the tide of Sino-Russian cultural and humanitarian exchange, over the coming four years these young students will take root in this fertile artistic soil where East meets West, tempering their craft amid strings and melodies, and broadening their artistic horizons through Sino-Russian cultural mutual learning. With passion as their wings and notes as their pen, they will play the brilliant movement of the times—belonging to themselves, and to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at Chongqing Normal University.
Chongqing Normal University
Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music at Chongqing Normal University
Layout & Design: Su Zhimei
First Review: Xu Xiaojing
Second Review: Zhu Jiajie
Third Review: Wu Jingyu
Editor-in-Charge: Gao Jingli