When Music Collides with Technology

What Kind of Symphony Will Be Played?

On the afternoon of January 17, in the Tianxuan Building lecture hall of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, a woodwind ensemble composed of members of the Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area (referred to asYMCG) orchestra performed the lively and spirited third movement of Charles Gounod’s “Little Symphony,” kicking off theShenzhen University of Advanced Technology 2025 Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen Station) “Music Gathering·Talk” face-to-face event with masters.

Internationally renowned conductor and YMCG Music Director Daniel Harding, Chinese conductor and YMCG Arts Committee Chairman Yu Long, London Symphony Orchestra principal flutist Davis Gareth, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra cellist Martin Menking, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology Provost Zhao Wei, Dean of the Faculty of Synthetic Biology Xian-En Zhang, and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chen Youhai held a discussion, engaging in an in-depth exploration ofthe relationship between music and technology, with nearly 200 Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology students and YMCG orchestra members listening on-site.

Daniel Harding believes thatthere are commonalities between music and technology, both originating from reality, such as bird songs in nature being a form of natural music. “Technological means can provide us with data, letting us know how music is composed and created. ”

“With AI, we can create music in 30 minutes, even including lyrics.” Xian-En Zhang affirmed the advantages of technology in assisting music work,“but AI can never replace human musicians.” “Because the emotional expression and creativity of human musicians are something AI cannot replicate.” Chen Youhai added.

Zhao Wei also expressed agreement. He said,good music is not just an answer in a computer program but is closely tied to human emotions, such as anger or happiness.

Yu Long emphasized thatthe development of modern technology has a certain impact on music creation, dissemination, and performance, for example, through digital technology, high-quality music recordings can be achieved, allowing more audiences to enjoy music performances online.However, Davis Gareth pointed out thatalthough people can listen to music online, the immersive experience and atmosphere of attending a concert in a concert hall remain irreplaceable.

After listening to the discussion

Many students said they gained a lot

Realizing that technology and music do not exclude each other

But rather empower each other

Also inspiring their future studies and research

Shenzhen University of Advanced Technologyhas always attached great importance to cultural and artistic education, dedicated to cultivating top innovative talents with international vision and innovative spirit. In the future, the university will continue to invite more masters to visit and exchange, providing students with more opportunities for learning and interaction.