SYDNEY, Aug 18 – On August 17, over 1000 school children from 106 public schools in Sydney and from five Chinese provinces got the chance to revel in the musical aspects of each other’s cultures at the Expanding Horizons Concert when they joined together in songs and dances at the Sydney Opera House.

The Expanding Horizons Concert is a biennial experience for primary and high school students from the Principals Networks, Ultimo and schools in Nanjing, Chengdu, Yangzhou, Pudong districts of Shanghai as well as educational authorities in Beijing, Zhengzhou and Jiangsu. 2015 is the year for the return of visiting performing arts ensembles from the cities Nanjing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, China to join with schools from the Ultimo Principals Networks at the Sydney Opera House.

Executive Director, Public Schools NSW, Murat Dizdar, said the concert provided a unique medium for strengthening our relationships with China and gave students a window into other cultures.

Senior Education Officer International Partnership Director of NSW Department of Education Confucius Institute, Dr Shuangyuan Shi said that the Expanding Horizon Concert is the bridge, just like Sydney Bridge, between the two countries and two cultures.

Over 18 musical items featured at the concert from the Australian National Anthem sung in Dharwal by the combined schools choir, to traditional Chinese orchestra, to dance ensemble performances from both Chinese and Australian high schools, to pieces by the Symphonia Jubilate.(People's Daily Online/ Chuyi Sheng)