On November 12, 2024, at noon, Associate Professor Jie Wang from the UIC Department of Music led the “Voices for Peace” Faculty-Student Concert in the UIC Performance Hall. Joined by her students and guest performers, Ms. Wang used music to heal emotional wounds and convey the power of peace through song. The hour-long performance received warm and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Ms. Jie Wang holds degrees from New York University, Berklee College of Music, and Monash University. She has previously served as an Associate Professor and Admissions Interviewer at Berklee College of Music, as an Adjunct Voice Faculty member at NYU’s Department of Music and Performing Arts, and as a Guest Associate Professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She currently serves as the Associate Professor and Associate Head of the UIC Department of Music. This concert was an integral part of the department’s faculty-student teaching activities.

The concert centered on the theme of “peace and love,” with all performers expressing their longing for peace and their call for love through music. The program included female solos, mixed duets, small ensembles, Chorus, and a grand choral performance. Songs such as “Brave,” “Season of Love,” “Heal the World,” “The Prayer,” and “The World Needs Love” conveyed the collective hope of UIC’s faculty and students for healing war-torn hearts and advocating for global peace. The final group performance of “Let the World Be Full of Love” brought the concert to a powerful climax.

Special guest, renowned musician Mr. Mai Zijie, gave a heartfelt performance of his song “The Wheat Field in the Wind” from his album. A graduate of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, Mr. Mai is recognized as the first mainland Chinese male singer to sign with Hong Kong’s PolyGram Records and is known for his deep, resonant voice. His moving and expressive performance garnered enthusiastic applause.

After the concert, Mr. Mai participated in a face-to-face discussion session titled “Stage Presence in Musical Performance” with students who were eager to learn from his experience. Students from the Department of Music and other disciplines enthusiastically engaged, posing numerous questions, all of which Mr. Mai answered thoughtfully. He shared insights from his own musical journey, providing valuable perspectives on stage performance, which resonated well with the students.

Concert Banner and Student Hosts

Group Photo of Performers and Staff After the Concert

Student ensemble performing the classic song "What the World Needs Now Is Love."

Associate Professor Jie Wang and the iMusic Student Band Performing “Brave”

Chorus Students Performing Michael Jackson’s Iconic Song

Special Guest Mr. Mai Zijie Performing His Signature Piece “The Wheat Field in the Wind”

Associate Professor Jie Wang and her Student Performing the Duet “The Prayer”

Grand Finale Bringing the Concert to a Peak

Following the concert, the discussion session on stage presence provided students with practical insights into mastering musical performance on stage.

Written by: Jie Wang

Photography：Selected images provided by the DMUS Academic Society

Responsible Editor and Reviewer: Sienna Wu