Sumi Jo and her students pose for a group photo at Pingshan Theater on April 18. Photos from the organizers

The Sumi Jo International Vocal Academy · Shenzhen was established in Pingshan on April 18, marking a strategic move to advance international vocal arts education and cultural exchange in the district.

A cooperation memorandum was signed between Shenzhen Vinci Cultura Art Exchange Co. and Shenzhen Pingshan Poly Theater Management Co. Drawing on global resources from South Korean soprano Sumi Jo, the academy will bring together top-tier international faculty and teaching programs, leverage Poly Theater’s platform advantages, and utilize Vinci Cultura’s professional operations. 

The initiative aims to build a comprehensive international vocal education platform integrating advanced training, international exchange, youth development, and performances. Its goal is to provide systematic, professional support for promising young singers from China and across Asia.

The academy is expected to further strengthen Pingshan’s cultural brand, “Masters in Pingshan,” and solidify its role as a key arts exchange hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while enhancing Pingshan’s and Shenzhen’s visibility in the global high-end cultural scene.

Sumi Jo performs at a concert at Pingshan Theater. 

Sumi Jo (R) instructs a student at her masterclass at Pingshan Theater.

The academy was established following the Second Sumi Jo International Vocal Competition (China Region), held at Pingshan Theater on April 14-15, as well as four masterclasses and a concert on April 16-18.

At the masterclasses, vocal learners received coaching from Jo. Celebrated for her light, expressive voice and virtuosic performances in major coloratura roles, Jo has been praised for having “a voice from above,” a remark attributed to Herbert von Karajan.

The highlight on the evening of April 18 saw outstanding masterclass participants take the stage at the concert. One participant who traveled from Guangzhou said, “Pingshan Theater and Vinci Cultura invite international vocal masters every year. I’ve made it a habit to follow these events, and this year I finally got to perform myself.”

A competitor from Hong Kong added, “The global champion was born here two years ago. I hope Pingshan will continue to be a place of opportunity for professional vocal students like us.”

A student performs at Pingshan Theater.

A local audience member shared, “I’m not a professional, but I love singing. Having an international star teach right in my neighborhood — with such affordable tickets — makes living in Pingshan truly a blessing.”

From the success of the first competition in 2024, to the introduction of masterclasses, and now the launch of the academy, the collaboration between Sumi Jo and Pingshan District has evolved into a long-term international vocal education brand — building an integrated vocal arts ecosystem that connects competition, training, performance, and exchange.