On July 8, the 2024 Fujian China-U.S. Youth Exchange Camp kicked off at the Xiamen campus of Huaqiao University (HQU). Over the next 2 weeks, about 110 American youths will travel around Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou to experience Chinese culture.

Han Mei, Director of the Chinese Music and Culture Center at Tennessee State University (MTSU), and two other teachers, brought 16 MTSU students to participate in the Harmony from Melody Summer Camp at HQU.

Before the opening ceremony, HQU Party Secretary Xu Xipeng and Vice President Wang Xiuyong met with the lead teachers Randy Raine-Reusch and Han Mei.

Randy Raine-Reusch has worked on projects that received four Grammy Awards. He found the exchange camp very meaningful. He believed it is more than the communication of music, it also allows young people to strike up friendships. “They will probably make some lifelong friends. This is a garden. We are growing flowers for the future.”

“These American students are looking forward to the exchange camp and have been preparing for months. They all learn Chinese musical instruments in the United States and can play various Chinese instruments.” said Han Mei.

For decades, Han Mei has performed and lectured on Chinese music in North America and even around the world. In 2016, she founded the Chinese Music and Culture Centre at MTSU. During their first day meeting, Han Mei said that the camp provides an opportunity for young American students who are learning Chinese musical instruments to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Chinese music.

“The pipa has a distinct sound. One cannot help but drawn to it once hearing it. It is so fascinating.” said Jarran Armstrong, a senior at MTSU. He told the reporters that this was his first trip to China and he wanted to learn more about the instrument in the camp.

“This is my first trip abroad, and I’m about to experience Chinese culture first hand. I’m very excited.” said Jakob Young, a freshman at MTSU. “Chinese music is unique and can be very catching. My purpose of coming here is to learn about the music.”

In the next few days, the campers will learn to play traditional Chinese instruments including the erhu, bamboo flute, percussion, guzheng, and pipa, and take courses on Chinese folk music and songs. They will experience dragon dancing and lion dancing, and sample cultural heritage crafts, like Peking opera masks, bamboo and rattan weaving, and paper quilling. They will also take culture trips to the neighboring cities of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou.

HQU Party Secretary Xu Xipeng and Vice President Wang Xiuyong meet with Randy Raine-Reusch and Han Mei, the lead teachers of the camp.

At the First Day Meeting

（Editor: Wei Linying）