'Resonance of Dunhuang' concert in Ottawa, Canada

As the final notes faded, Resonance of Dunhuang, presented by the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble, concluded successfully at Algonquin Commons Theatre in Ottawa on the evening of October 10.

The Ottawa concert was an important stop on the ensemble's 2026 Canadian tour, which marked its North American debut. Drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves, the production combined music with visual art to explore contemporary expressions of ancient Silk Road civilization while promoting understanding and exchange among different cultures.

Presented at the invitation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, the tour received strong support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Dunhuang Academy and the Chan Chong Charitable Foundation. As an artistic exchange event celebrating the 56th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada, it offered Canadian audiences an immersive audiovisual journey spanning more than a millennium.

The concert was warmly received, with enthusiastic applause throughout the evening. Guests in attendance included Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di; former Canadian senator Victor Oh; Wang Guobiao, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto; Zhao Shengliang, former director of the Dunhuang Academy; and Leonie Ki, founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble.

Bringing the sounds of Dunhuang from murals to music

Dunhuang was at a crossroads of civilizations along the ancient Silk Road. The flying apsaras, musical instruments and vibrant scenes of music and dance depicted in the Mogao Cave murals not only document the artistic life of ancient society, but also bear witness to the exchange and integration of different civilizations along the Silk Road.

Resonance of Dunhuang grew out of this distinctive artistic vision. Guided by the principles of “inheritance, preservation and innovation,” eight accomplished young Chinese instrumentalists from Hong Kong used reconstructed ancient instruments to reimagine 1,600 years of Silk Road culture preserved in the Mogao Caves.

Through contemporary compositions, the musicians gave new life to melodies lost to history. A defining feature of the performance was its integration of sound and imagery. Traditional Chinese music was combined with animated multimedia visuals inspired by the Dunhuang murals, immersing audiences in the magnificent world of the Mogao Caves and allowing them to experience the interaction of Eastern and Western cultures through Silk Road art.

Leonie Ki, founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble, said the concert offered a contemporary interpretation of Dunhuang art. By combining music and multimedia, the ensemble sought to reconstruct sounds lost to history, allowing cultural memories preserved over the centuries to be heard and experienced again. The production also aimed to encourage cultural exchange across national boundaries and showcase Hong Kong’s creative vitality.

Building a bridge between China and Canada through music

Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been an important meeting point for diverse cultures. Artistic traditions, aesthetic ideas and humanistic values from different regions encountered and influenced one another along the Silk Road, collectively shaping the inclusive, diverse and distinctive character of Dunhuang art.

The year 2026 marks the 56th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada. Through Dunhuang, an internationally recognized cultural symbol, the Canadian tour used music and art to create a platform for dialogue, offering audiences a new perspective from which to understand traditional Chinese culture.

In his remarks before the concert, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di said the ensemble’s musical creativity and innovation explored the contemporary relevance of Dunhuang culture. The performance demonstrated culture's ability to transcend geographical, linguistic and historical boundaries. It also contributed to friendship and people-to-people ties between China and Canada by creating opportunities for audiences from different cultural backgrounds to appreciate, understand and engage with one another.

Former Canadian senator Victor Oh also welcomed the ensemble and expressed his appreciation for the performance. He said the concert was particularly meaningful as China and Canada marked the 56th anniversary of diplomatic relations and voiced the hope that music’s unique power could strengthen connections among people while creating shared memories and emotional bonds.

Cultural communication is not simply about presenting history; it is also about connecting history with contemporary life. Through a modern artistic language, Resonance of Dunhuang reinterpreted a cultural heritage spanning more than a millennium and demonstrated the continuing vitality of Chinese culture through both preservation and innovation.

Honoring history through music and connecting the world through art

Founded by Leonie Ki in 2018, the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble brings together composers and performers of traditional Chinese instruments. Using artistic forms accessible to contemporary audiences, the ensemble reinterprets the sounds and cultural imagination preserved in the Dunhuang murals.

Its music conveys not only the distant echoes of the Silk Road, but also a sincere desire for Chinese culture to engage in dialogue with the world.

Wang Guobiao, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, said his office was honored to support the tour. He noted that music can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, introducing Canadian audiences to the depth of Chinese culture while highlighting Hong Kong’s distinctive role as an international cultural hub.

To deepen public understanding of Dunhuang’s cultural heritage, the ensemble invited renowned Dunhuang art scholar Dr. Zhao Shengliang, former director of the Dunhuang Academy, to join the tour. A special lecture was scheduled for October 11 in Ottawa. Combining academic insight with artistic appreciation, the lecture would examine the artistic essence of the Mogao Cave murals and further strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Canada.

The music may have ended, but its resonance continues.

Following successful performances in Toronto and Ottawa, the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble completed its North American debut, using music as a bridge between cultures. The artistic treasures preserved in the caves, the memories of civilizations carried along the Silk Road and the cultural imagination spanning more than a millennium have left a memorable impression on Canada’s cultural stage.