The 2018 Guangzhou Xinghai International Music Season, a half-year music event in honor of Guangzhou's greatest composer, Xian Xinghai, kicks off on June 13 at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music.

The event was held by Guangzhou's publicity department, Guangzhou culture, radio, television, press and publications bureau, Guangzhou Federation of Trade Unions, and the Panyu district government.

A choir performs at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Guangzhou Xinghai International Music Season. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]

June 13 marks the 113rd birthday of Xian Xinghai and the opening ceremony pays tribute to the great composer by featuring a movie called Musician. The movie was produced jointly by Kazakhstan and China, with the two protagonists being Xian Xinghai and his friend, a musician from Kazakhstan.

In addition to the opening ceremony, other important parts of the music season include the 2018 Guangzhou Xinghai Chorus Festival, performances by famous international bands, a Guangdong music achievements show, and outdoor performances season. The 2018 Guangzhou Xinghai Chorus Festival, to be held in October, will be one of the highlights of the music season, with various performances by choirs consisting of students, civil servants, workers, and ordinary citizens to be staged among the city's iconic buildings, tourism attractions, and famous outdoor spaces. 

A youth chorus performs on stage at the opening ceremony. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]

Since the 1980s, Guangzhou has been hailed as a breeding ground for original music, cultivating a large number of well-known domestic musicians. Today, the city is striving to become known for its unique music and build a reputation as a world music capital.

Guangzhou citizens practice chorus at Xiaogang Park. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]