At 4 p.m. on September 8, the special‑expert lecture series organised by the faculty and staff choir of City University of Macau kicked off at the Ho Yin Convention Centre HG01. The opening session was hosted by Professor Li Xi,  Dean of the Faculty of International Tourism and Management and Head of the faculty and staff choir. Professor Dai Dingcheng, Program Coordinator of Arts Studies and Director of the Macau Urban Music Research Centre at City University of Macau, served as the guest speaker. In his lecture titled Art Music Styles and Modes of Presentation, he delivered an academically rigorous yet artistically engaging sharing for faculty and students present.

During the lecture, Professor Dai combined music video clips with live interactive segments to guide the audience to experience the distinctive artistic appeal of diverse musical works. Drawing on his profound academic expertise and adopting a vivid narrative style, he led the audience to appreciate European art music compositions covering different genres and styles, from the early medieval polyphonic music to the modern and contemporary music of the 20th century. The event received an enthusiastic response from attendees. After the lecture, Professor Li Xi delivered closing remarks. He thanked Professor Dai for his brilliant presentation and encouraged choir members to integrate insights gained from the session into their regular artistic practice.

This lecture has enriched the campus academic climate and nourished the professional growth of the faculty and staff choir. As City University of Macau's first‑ever musical ensemble for staff members, the choir carries pioneering and exemplary significance among higher‑education institutions in Macau. Serving as the Choir's Music Director, Professor Dai Dingcheng provides strategic artistic guidance informed by his scholarly depth and artistic vision. Uniting staff through music and driving practical artistic work with academic knowledge, the choir offers a tangible reference case for the sustainable development of cultural associations in Macau. More than an academic exchange, this lecture represents cultural outreach rooted within the university campus. The story of Macau's urban music has struck its exemplary opening notes amid the collective resonance of City University of Macau faculty and staff.

Author: Hu Yiming, Doctor of Philosophy in Arts (The Study of Chinese Music History)