The Department of Music at National Chiayi University (NCYU) is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mongolian State Conservatory in 2024, furthering its commitment to international cultural and academic exchange. As part of this collaboration, in November 2024, NCYU invited Professor Zorigt Bat-Uzil and the Mongolian State Conservatory’s percussion ensemble to Taiwan for a special performance. To continue fostering this partnership, in 2025, NCYU percussion faculty and students traveled to Mongolia to participate in The Zorigt Percussion Competition and Festival, an esteemed international percussion event.
This milestone collaboration was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Professor Wei-Chen Lin from NCYU’s Music Department and the invaluable support of the Taipei Trade and Economic Representative Office in Mongolia. Professor Lin was invited to serve as a jury member and guest artist at the festival, while NCYU also sent its percussion students to Mongolia for the first time, demonstrating a strong commitment to deepening international partnerships. This bilateral exchange marks the largest and most closely coordinated collaboration between the two institutions since establishing sister school relations, laying the foundation for long-term cooperation between Taiwan and Mongolia in higher music education.
Expanding International Collaboration: NCYU Students’ First Exchange in Mongolia
This visit to Mongolia represents a historic milestone for NCYU, as it is the first time the university has officially sent students for an exchange in Mongolia. The Mongolian State Conservatory has established an outstanding percussion ensemble, providing NCYU students with a unique opportunity to interact with top-tier musicians. Throughout the visit, students participated in joint lectures, competition observations, and concert presentations fostering cultural and artistic exchanges while expanding their global musical perspectives.
The success of this exchange was made possible by the administrative support of Professor Shih-Yun Hsieh, Chair of the Department of Music at NCYU, and the leadership of Professor Chien-Ying Yang, who guided the students and ensured a smooth and enriching experience. NCYU remains committed to offering students global learning opportunities by partnering with prestigious music institutions worldwide, allowing them to gain firsthand experience in diverse musical traditions.
Cultural Synergy and the Sustainable Growth of Music
At NCYU, we firmly believe that the development of culture and the arts should be based on mutual support and collective growth, rather than competition and exclusion. This partnership with the Mongolian State Conservatory is not just an academic and artistic exchange—it represents the beginning of a long-term collaboration that will continue to grow and evolve. Moving forward, NCYU will further strengthen ties with international music institutions, creating more opportunities for students to engage in cross-cultural artistic experiences and expand their global outlook.
Showcasing NCYU’s International Influence in Major Music Events
During this visit, NCYU faculty members were also honored to participate in Mongolia’s prestigious music competitions and festivals. Professor Wei-Chen Lin served as the Head Judge for the Zorigt Percussion Competition and performed as a featured soloist alongside his Duo LinLynn partner, Lynn Vartan. Together, they presented John Psathas’ Double Percussion Concerto “The All-Seeing Sky”, with the Mongolian Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Lkhaguasuren Banzar. This performance was a historic moment, marking the first-ever double percussion concerto performed by the Mongolian Philharmonic Orchestra.
NCYU extends its sincere gratitude to Kush,
founder of Aydu Music For All, and Professor Zorigt Bat-Uzil of the Mongolian
State Conservatory for their warm invitation and generous support. This
collaboration provided an invaluable platform for NCYU faculty and students to
engage with internationally renowned percussionists while sharing their artistry
with Mongolian audiences. Looking ahead, NCYU is committed to fostering
continued exchanges with Mongolia, strengthening cultural and artistic ties,
and creating new possibilities for musical innovation and education on a global
scale.
Faculty and students of National Chiayi University participated in an international masterclass exchange seminar.
Percussion faculty and students of National Chiayi University exchanged musical ideas with those from the Mongolian State Conservatory.
A delegation of nine faculty and students from the Department of Music, National Chiayi University visited the Taipei Trade and Economic Representative Office in Ulaanbaatar, meeting with Representative Nicholas, Wang Kai-You (front row, second from the left).