The art group of Hangzhou Art School visited Los Angeles High School for Art and participated in Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival.

     On September 20, 2014, twenty-five members of the art group of Hangzhou Art School, under the leadership of Zhang Yiwen, went to the United States to make a return visit to Los Angeles High School for Art and to participate in some performances. Meanwhile the art group was invited by the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University to attend Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival and the celebration event for 10th anniversary of Global Confucius Institute .

     This return visit followed the successful joint performance of musical play "Cinderella" presented by HAS and LAHSA. The art group was given a warm welcome by the local teachers and students from LAHSA. The members of the art group joined local families, experienced the local customs, took part in the LAHSA classroom learning and had a deep communication with local students. The students even learned folk dances from each other. In the process music was a universal language instead of words that enhanced mutual understanding and friendship.

From September 25 to 29, the art group attended a series of performances of Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival. Chicago Community College Orchestra and our art group presented two joint performances full of Chinese culture for the local citizens. Our art group had an opportunity to attend a local children's choral festival , presenting varied folk music pieces and folk dances. Our art group even offered some Zither teaching lessons in Chinese folk music teaching and learning activity held by Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University. 

    On the evening of 29, Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival, held by the Confucius Institute at Church of the Resurrection, was the biggest item of the entire event. The festival started with "Enigma Variations" and "Confucius Millennium Music" presented by Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra. Our art group brought in the dance "Guzhali Guli " and music pieces "Mountain and Flowing Water", "Spring to Xiangjiang River" " Fight against the Typhoon " etc, which were warmly welcomed. The traditional Chinese folk song "Jasmine" made a big wave and brought the event a high pitch. In the last phrase nearly 400 Chinese and American presented the joint performances "Kangding Love Song "and" Dance Music of Yao ", which gave the event a great ending.

    The art group of Hangzhou Art School spread Chinese traditional culture through their folk music pieces and folk dances. This return visit, propagating the Chinese cultural, propagating the culture in Hangzhou, was a great success.