To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mandarin House of Moon Chun Memorial College at University of Macau organized a Song Appreciation and Singing Masterclass titled “Patriotic Sing Along” on 7^th October 2024. The event attracted one hundred participants.

Renowned vocal master, Prof. Seng Mei was invited to offer professional guidance to students wishing to express their affection for the country and Macao through singing. Singers from five different houses showcased a variety of songs, including Song of Seven Sons, Ode to Heroes, I Love you China, My Motherland and I, Wish and An Inch of Heart, creating a resonance in everyone’s heart.

Prof. Seng first guided the students to understand the historical background and social conditions of each song. She then helped them deeply understand the song and visualize the corresponding musical scenes in their minds. This approach enabled students to accurately express the inner emotions of the songs. In the end, Prof. Seng’s performance, My Motherland was moving and captivated the entire audience, which received a big round of applause.

“It was a unique opportunity to see the master in action, demonstrating and teaching students how to convey emotions through their singing. With just a touch of the master’s guidance, the students undoubtedly became better singers.” – Ms. Vivian Chaplin (College Fellow, FAH)

“On the occasion of the National Day and the double celebration of Macao’s return, holding a patriotic song singing class at the University of Macau, which is highly internationalized and has special significance as a Special Administrative Region, is a successful practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macao. The enthusiasm of the singers and the backstage team, the full attendance of the audience, and the completeness of the event content not only indicated the success of the event but also fully reflect the university’s effective use of residential college advantages and its emphasis on national education.” – Dr. Kuan Ju Lai (College Affiliate, FLL)

The story content of the song ‘An Inch of Heart’ filled my mind with vivid images: ‘Every inch of land has someone rushing to it, every inch of sky is guarded with life and death.’ The happy life we have now is the result of countless heroes, martyrs, and revolutionaries who fought bravely, sacrificing their lives and blood. I chose this song to sing not only because of its beautiful melody but also because it is filled with deep love for the country and is meant to commemorate the Martyrs’ Day that just ended on 30^th September” – Kelvin Tsang (Year 2 Student, FED)

“The ‘Patriotic Sing Along’ masterclass brought touching patriotic songs to us, and the background stories narrated allowed us to feel deeply the significant changes in the country over the 75 years since its founding. Prof. Seng’s dedicated guidance to the singers gave us a deeper understanding of patriotic songs and greatly enhanced the singers’ vocal techniques. This event not only allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the history behind the songs, but also deepened our patriotic sentiments.” – Belly Wang (Year 1 Student, FBA)