The 4th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Music and Dance Festival unveiled days ago at Zhejiang Conservatory of Music drew more than 30 representatives from the arts education sector, hailing from a dozen countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Russia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Italy.

This year’s festival continues its “academic seminar plus performance” format. It stresses people’ incessant pursuit and practice in arts education - all for a conversation and cooperation between China and CEEC in the fields of music and dance.

The inaugural Kodály International Music Culture Seminar on November 3, organized by the Kodály International Music Culture Center, centered on the integration of Chinese and Hungarian musical cultures and the contemporary application of Kodály’s educational philosophy - to revitalize traditional music in a modern context and bring new energy to global music education exchanges.

Another key session, literally about “Music Education and Its Mission in the Digital Age,” brought together top-tier educators from countries such as North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. They shared insights from their own practices, examining how the digital era is reshaping music teaching and exploring new ways to sustain cultural heritage through technology.

The festival also features masterclasses and workshops from top artists and educators from Serbia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, and other nations, covering a wide range of disciplines including flute, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, guitar, accordion, piano, and dance.

Since establishment in Hangzhou in 2017, the “China-CEEC Music Academies League” has become a key platform for advancing collaborations in art education. Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, as the league’s secretariat, helps foster academic interactions and talent development among member institutions. The four sessions of China-CEEC Music and Dance Festival have engaged a dozen CEEC colleges and facilitated multiple exchanges and cooperative agreements - it’s been considered an impressive society for global art exchange and conversation.