Confucius Institute gala event to celebrate anniversary
By: Adam Schifani
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: News
In celebration of the anniversary of the Confucius Institute at The University of Memphis, the Chinese Full-Moon Festival, and the birthday of Confucius, the institute is holding a gala concert at the Germantown Performing Arts Center.
The gala event will be a dinner, concert and a silent auction, according to Hsiang-te Kung, director of the Confucius Institute. The concert, Sept. 14, will feature Liling Zhou, a soloist from China, playing a guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucking instrument. It will also feature other Chinese musicians and local artists. The auction will feature art and calligraphy that should be affordable. The event also celebrates the teachings of Confucius.
"Confucius was a wonderful teacher who taught 3,000 disciples from all different social classes. Before Bush's 'No Child Left Behind,' Confucius taught that same principle," Kung said.
In addition to the gala concert, the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art is loaning two exhibits of Chinese artifacts to be displayed at the Ned McWherter Library for the remainder of the semester.
The institute was established at The U of M to further the Chinese language program and an understanding of contemporary Chinese and Chino-American culture, said Kung.
"As it is said in the Olympics, I believe in one world, one dream," Kung said.
The Chinese language program and the Confucius Institute work closely with each other to create a better Chinese language community at the U of M, said Kung.
"The institute and the language program were started about a year and a half ago, so it worked out great for the faculty and students," said Ralph Albanese, Chair of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.
Albanese said the institute has helped with the program and students. The number of students grew from 26 to 59 students from the start of the program last year. There are 17 Chinese courses offered. Some teachers have been provided by the Chinese government because it supports the Confucius Institute.
The gala event will be a dinner, concert and a silent auction, according to Hsiang-te Kung, director of the Confucius Institute. The concert, Sept. 14, will feature Liling Zhou, a soloist from China, playing a guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucking instrument. It will also feature other Chinese musicians and local artists. The auction will feature art and calligraphy that should be affordable. The event also celebrates the teachings of Confucius.
"Confucius was a wonderful teacher who taught 3,000 disciples from all different social classes. Before Bush's 'No Child Left Behind,' Confucius taught that same principle," Kung said.
In addition to the gala concert, the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art is loaning two exhibits of Chinese artifacts to be displayed at the Ned McWherter Library for the remainder of the semester.
The institute was established at The U of M to further the Chinese language program and an understanding of contemporary Chinese and Chino-American culture, said Kung.
"As it is said in the Olympics, I believe in one world, one dream," Kung said.
The Chinese language program and the Confucius Institute work closely with each other to create a better Chinese language community at the U of M, said Kung.
"The institute and the language program were started about a year and a half ago, so it worked out great for the faculty and students," said Ralph Albanese, Chair of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.
Albanese said the institute has helped with the program and students. The number of students grew from 26 to 59 students from the start of the program last year. There are 17 Chinese courses offered. Some teachers have been provided by the Chinese government because it supports the Confucius Institute.