On the evening of November 30, 2024, the 10th Anniversary Special Edition of the "Senior Youth Music Concert" was grandly held at the Cultural Center of the City University of Macau. Jointly organized by the Faculty of Innovative and Design and the Faculty of Health Wellness of the City University of Macau, together with the School of Art and Design at Guangdong University of Technology, the event revolved around the theme "Follow the Feeling."

Dean Sun Pei of the Faculty of Health and Wellness attended in person, joining the audience in celebrating this cultural feast. The concert featured a rich and profound program, including a vibrant performance by the "Haiwan Band," composed of graduates from the Shenzhen Cultural and Creative Program of Peking University. Additionally, Professor Cai Jun from Tsinghua University performed Tai Chi in front of the "Digital Ink Art Image Creation" project, a 2024 masterpiece by Professor Leong Lam-Po of the University of Macau. The event also included reflections and stories shared by entrepreneurs and chairpersons of publicly listed companies from cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, offering a glimpse into their youthful journeys.

This celebration was a perfect blend of artistry, innovation, and heartfelt connections, leaving a lasting impression on all in attendance.

A Decade of Legacy: The Philosophy and Practice of Senior Youth

What Is the Best Age in Life? Is it childhood? Youth? Middle age? Old age? Or is it at 50, the beginning of life’s second half?

Across the world, there are similar traditions celebrating the transition to adulthood at 16, marking the start of a vibrant and promising life. With advances in medicine and economic development, living to 100 is no longer a rarity. In this context, Professor Luh Dingbang, along with a group of intellectually mature individuals over 50 — the “Senior Youth” — launched the “Midlife Ceremony” on December 12, 2015. This initiative, accompanied by the themed music event “1212 Racing Against Oneself,” aimed to usher in the second half of life, inspiring those in their 50s to stay healthy, continue growing, and live authentically.

The Senior Youth are a community that refuses to let time go to waste or succumb to aging. They encourage every member to meet two yearly life goals: accomplishing something new (self-benefit) and bringing happiness to others (mutual benefit). While self-benefit is an individual endeavor, mutual benefit is achieved through collective effort, embodying the spirit of collaboration and self-improvement that defines the Senior Youth movement.

Through the principles of “doing something you’ve never done before” and “doing something that brings joy to others,” Professor Luh Dingbang advocates a positive and uplifting life philosophy. As the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Senior Youth Music Concert, the Macau edition not only carried forward this philosophy but also enriched its significance by uniquely combining academia and music.

In 2016, its philosophy and methods were published in an international journal.

The "Senior Youth Music Event" is held every early winter to symbolize the year-end celebration. It originated in 2010 and was formalized in 2015. To date, 12 physical events and one online event have been successfully held in Tainan, Taichung, Taipei, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and online. The themes of each event have gradually shaped our understanding and expectations of "Senior Youth," including: "Second Half · Start," "Racing Against Yourself," "If I Could Start Over," "Time Cannot Take Away," "Remember," "I'm Still Young," "Cross-Country · Sunshine," "Fate · Sky," "Friends for Life," and "As Long As You Are Willing."

The music event originated in 2010, was officially established in 2015, and has continued to this day, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024.

The Intersection of Academia and Music: A Unique Audiovisual Feast

The concert ran from 18:30 to 21:00 and was divided into five major segments: “Reflection, Inspiration, Sharing, Contribution, and Freedom.” The program included a retrospective of classic performances from past concerts, as well as original performances from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. From iconic pieces like The Orchid Grass and As Free as a Dream to the innovative Tianwen II — The Beauty of Ink and Wash, the performances were diverse in style and rich in content, beautifully showcasing the fusion of academia and art.

The event attracted numerous senior youth participants, who, together with faculty and students from CityU and Guangdong University of Technology, delivered several captivating performances, highlighting the unique charm of cross-generational collaboration. The grand finale, a chorus of Follow Your Heart, elevated the atmosphere to its peak, bringing the concert to a perfect conclusion.

Event Photos

A noteworthy aspect of this Senior Youth Music Concert is its deep integration of music, art, and academic research, with a focus on health and innovative design. The event demonstrated the practical value of interdisciplinary collaboration. In terms of health, music, recognized as a scientifically-backed longevity method, aligns closely with the research directions of the Faculty of Health and Wellness. The event not only advocated for using music to enhance physical and mental well-being but also supported the development of related course designs and brand positioning. At the same time, the Faculty of Innovative and Design drew inspiration from the event to explore new possibilities in social science experiments and design research. By incorporating the principles of "self-benefit" and "mutual benefit" into artistic performances, the concert became a vivid showcase of a healthy lifestyle and innovative academic achievements.

The Integration of Music and Academia

Creating the Future Together: The Transmission of the Senior Youth Spirit

As an innovative event combining academia and music, the success of the Senior Youth Music Concert over the past ten years would not have been possible without the support and participation of various sectors of society. This event was not only a feast of music but also a platform for sharing life experiences and wisdom, showcasing the Senior Youth's spirit of continuous excellence and innovation.

The event not only facilitated academic collaboration and cultural exchange between faculties but also enhanced the university’s brand image and social visibility through its wide-reaching influence. It fully demonstrated the university’s strength and determination in promoting academic innovation and social service, laying a solid foundation for further expanding academic exploration in health, design, and cultural fields.