The Academy of Music of Guizhou University traces its origins to the Guizhou Provincial School for Culture and Art Cadres and the Art Department of Guizhou University in the 1950s. It has evolved through various incarnations, including the Guizhou Provincial Art School, Guizhou Art College, Guizhou College of Art, and the College of Art at Guizhou University. In July 2016, following an organizational restructuring at Guizhou University, the Academy of Music was established as an independent entity. The Academy comprises several functional departments, including the Party Affairs and Administration Office, Research and Teaching Affairs Office, Student Affairs Office (incorporating the Communist Youth League), and the Office of Scientific Research and Discipline Construction, as well as three academic units: the Department of Music, Department of Dance, and Department of Drama.
Currently, the Academy offers a first-class discipline master’s degree in Art, professional master’s degrees in Music and Drama, and five undergraduate majors: Music Performance, Musicology, Dance Performance, Performing Arts, and Theatre, Film and Television Direction. Notably, Music Performance, Dance Performance, and Performing Arts are recognized as national-level first-class undergraduate programs, while Musicology holds a provincial-level first-class status. In the 2023 Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Universities, our programs achieved commendable standings: Music Performance ranked 26th nationally (out of 158) and in the A tier of the entire list; Dance Performance ranked 13th (out of 99) and also in the A tier; Performing Arts ranked 15th (out of 94) and also in the A tier; Musicology ranked 73rd (out of 213) and in the B+ tier; and Theatre, Film and Television Direction ranked 16th (out of 19) and also in the B tier. The Academy also boasts three provincial-level exemplary courses: Vocal Music Major, Guizhou Ethnic Minority Folk Song Singing Techniques, and Sight-Singing and Ear Training.
The Academy’s faculty comprises 117 members, including 9 professors, 40 associate professors, 12 Ph.D. holders, and 6 Ph.D. candidates. Among our distinguished staff are a provincial government counselor, a provincial core expert, a provincial expert, a provincial young academic innovator in philosophy and social sciences, a university-level academic discipline leader, and a university-level master teacher.
The Academy maintains a strong focus on both teaching and research, emphasizing the practical application of our intellectual achievements. In recent years, our faculty has secured numerous research grants, including 5 National Social Science Fund projects, 3 National Art Fund projects, 2 Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Research Planning Fund projects, 2 Guizhou Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning projects, 10 Guizhou Provincial Art Science Planning projects, 4 Guizhou Provincial Education Science Planning projects, 2 key projects for supporting the creation of outstanding literary and artistic works, 3 provincial-level teaching content and curriculum system reform projects, and 2 provincial-level ideological and political theory courses in colleges and universities. Our academic output includes over 10 monographs (or CD sets) and numerous high-quality research papers published in prestigious journals such as Music Research, Chinese Music, People’s Music, and Guizhou Ethnic Studies.
The Academy has won several important awards, including second and third prizes at the Guizhou Provincial Government Literary and Artistic Awards, and third prizes for outstanding achievements in philosophy and social sciences in Guizhou Province, marking a new height in overall scientific research capabilities. Our faculty and students have garnered over 100 gold, silver, and bronze medals at national and provincial-level professional art competitions. The Academy has also participated in major events such as the 9th National Ethnic Minorities Sports Meeting, China-ASEAN Education Week, and the Eco-Civilization Forum in Guiyang, generating significant social impact.
At the Academy of Music, we adhere to the talent cultivation philosophy of “solid foundation, strong ability, emphasis on quality, and pursuit of innovation.” Our goal is to nurture well-rounded music professionals who can integrate specialized knowledge with practical skills, contributing to local economic and cultural progress. To help students convert their textbook knowledge into practical skills, we have established long-term partnerships with professional arts organizations, including Colorful Guizhou Culture and Art Co., Ltd., Guizhou Song and Dance Theater Co., Ltd., Guizhou Qian Opera Troupe, Guizhou Flower Lantern Theater Co., Ltd., Guizhou Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Guizhou Provincial Culture Center. With a history spanning over 60 years, we have developed a comprehensive teaching system and accumulated rich experience in arts education, producing numerous talented professionals for society.
The Academy of Music upholds the principle of “Promoting Education and Cultivating Talents” and embraces Guizhou University’s motto of “Illustrious Virtue, Utmost Goodness, Extensive Learning, and Earnest Practice.” We are firmly committed to the fundamental task of moral education and adhere to the requirements of “Chinese characteristics, world-class standards, and Guizhou’s needs.” In line with the university's goals of accelerating development through provincial-ministerial co-construction and achieving “Double First-Class” status, we strive to provide solid artistic talent and intellectual support for Guizhou’s modernization efforts and to make positive contributions to China’s socialist cultural and ethical progress.
