Recently, the 20th "Sakura Cup" international music competition in Osaka has successfully concluded. The student Jing Hao from Music School of Ningbo University won the third place in the undergraduate group. This is the first time that the student from Ningbo University has won the Osaka International Music Competition. 

The "Sakura Cup" vocal international competition evaluation committee was chaired by Mr. Yoshihiko, a Japanese famous music critic, director of the Osaka Music University and the early director of Osaka Opera House. The vice chairmen are Mr. Li Zixiang, the president of the China Music Council, Yu Zizheng, the famous tenor singer and the Dean of the Music School of Ningbo University and Sima Festival, the famous Japanese musician. In this international music competition, Chang Zhenhua and Sun Mingli, the teachers from Music School of Ningbo University, won the Best Teacher Award.

The Osaka International Music Competition is a large-scale music competition hosted by the China Music Council, the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka, and the Japan International Education Agency. The purpose of this international music competition is to inspire Japanese and Asian people’s love and participation in arts, improve the quality of cultural life, promote friendly exchanges between Japan and Asian countries, make progress in harmony, and improve the health of all people. It also aims to develop the non-governmental creative cultural industry and art forms which are suitable for the people in Asian countries. The art of nationality with ethnic characteristics will be exchanged between Japan and Asian countries for mutual understanding and consensus. The event has received strong support and assistance from vocal experts and educators of the art schools at home and abroad. Nearly 200 participants from various provinces and cities in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and other countries and regions participated in this festival and exchange activities.

During the six-day academic festival, through the various forms of artistic activities including the international vocal music competition, arts guidance classes, vocal instruction lessons, and awards ceremony, the students were able to fully appreciate the beauty of vocal music and make a great progress.