Traveling troupe tells State's stories well

Group of blind artists dedicated to serving Party and people

Wang Wenjie, who was born unable to see, began studying at the Lingchuan County Blind People Folk Art Publicity Troupe in Shanxi province eight years ago at the tender age of 8.

Since then, the teen has mastered several musical instruments. He has learned a great deal about music and culture and dreams of becoming a pianist one day.

His teacher, Song Xuemin, is a 38-year-old musician who was one of the first students to study with the troupe and now serves as its deputy director.

"In 1995, I was one of eight children who came to join the troupe," Song said. "Hou Songsuo, the then troupe leader, started a Braille class to ensure we didn't suffer from illiteracy the way our teachers had."

After studying for eight years, Song was admitted to the Shanxi Special Education Secondary Professional School in Taiyuan to study massage in 2003. After graduating, he turned down a position as a masseur in the provincial capital and returned to the rural troupe.

Thanks to the support of the local government, the Braille class has become the county's calling card. Some 200 children have benefited, and 20 of them have gone on to higher level institutions.

"I believe everyone has a mission and a path. And in the world of music, I have found mine," Wang said.