Abstract

This study examines the contemporary preservation and transmission of Chinese Gezi Opera music in Fujian Province, emphasizing its incorporation into educational institutions, professional performing ensembles, and academic research circles. This study employs qualitative research rooted in ethnomusicology, including field observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, to examine several initiatives to preserve this regional traditional opera. The study highlights significant attempts by elementary and secondary schools, wherein Gezi Opera troupes have been established to familiarize pupils with the art form, despite constraints arising from limited time, money, and academic pressure. Universities, especially art colleges, offer organized instruction, but prospects for wider exposure are limited. Professional troupes are pivotal in maintaining Gezi Opera via performances, teaching, and creativity, while encountering challenges with finance, modernity, and audience participation. Academic scholars contribute via documentation and theoretical inquiry but face obstacles such as insufficient financial support, restricted access to historical resources, and inadequate transdisciplinary and international collaboration. The study concludes by recommending strategic initiatives across all sectors to enhance the cultural, educational, and academic framework supporting Gezi Opera and to ensure its ongoing significance and vitality in contemporary society.

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