National Chengchi University, founded on May 20, 1927, and reestablished in Taiwan in 1954, is set to celebrate its centenary in 2027. To mark the occasion, the NCCU Northern and Southern California Alumni Associations, in collaboration with the university, officially launched the “2027 NCCU Chorus and Alumni Classic Band Western U.S. Tour” on February 28 at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, kicking off overseas celebrations for the centennial anniversary.
During the event, NCCU President Lee Tsai-Yen, along with the “Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan” delegation, visited the San Francisco Bay Area to attend the press conference amidst their busy schedule.
President of the NCCU Northern California Alumni Association, Chang Hsiu-Chen, expressed that holding the press conference during President Lee’s visit to the U.S. was a rare and fateful opportunity, symbolizing the official commencement of overseas activities for the centenary celebration.
In his address, President Lee highlighted the significance of the centennial celebration, emphasizing the pivotal role NCCU has played in the development of the Republic of China, stating that without NCCU, the national development might have taken a different trajectory.
He disclosed plans for a “World Alumni Carnival” and other activities to be held in Taiwan during the centennial celebration, welcoming alumni from around the world to return to their alma mater for the festivities.
In January next year, the Chorus and Alumni Classic Band will embark on a Western U.S. tour, a crucial part of the centennial celebration activities. President Lee expressed his priority in joining the tour to California to reunite with overseas alumni.
According to the organizing committee, the tour is scheduled for mid-January 2027. The first concert will take place on January 16 in Palo Alto, Northern California, followed by performances in Los Angeles. The tour, spanning around five to six days, will include multiple concerts in both Northern and Southern California, incorporating cultural exchanges and alumni interactions.
Initiated by the NCCU Northern California Alumni Association and co-hosted by the Southern California Alumni Association, the tour will feature the participation of NCCU’s two renowned music groups – the established NCCU Chorus founded in 1958, and the Alumni Classic Band comprised of former members and alumni, upholding the spirit of campus music and camaraderie. The lineup is expected to include about 30 members of the Chorus, 25 members of the Alumni Classic Band, and around 60 members of the Northern California Alumni Chorus, spanning across different generations.
President Lee affirmed that the performance repertoire will include the university anthem, emphasizing that singing the anthem is a tradition among NCCU students and alumni. He stressed that the tour, presented jointly by current students and alumni, aims to strengthen the bond among California alumni through music, embodying the university motto of “Harmony, Sincerity, Truth.”
In addition to the tour activities, President Lee highlighted the university’s recent developments and fundraising achievements. As part of the centennial celebration, NCCU has set a fundraising goal of NT$1 billion to lay the foundation for future development over the next decade. Alumni donations amounting to $30 million USD (equivalent to over NT$900 million) have been allocated for constructing new dormitories to reduce future students’ accommodation costs. Recent substantial donations have also been directed towards journalism awards and teaching development funds, demonstrating the strong bond between alumni and their alma mater.
The organizers announced plans to release detailed information on performance venues and ticket sales in the future, urging alumni to come together to witness the glory of the university’s centennial milestone.