Song of passion for youth chamber choir

During the week 28-year-old Liang Jing is a kindergarten teacher in Beijing. But as Sunday arrives, she turns into a singer ready to take the stage at the nation's top theater, though she is not a paid performer.

"I never imagined I would have the same glory and applause that the audience gives great musicians," said Liang, who has been rehearsing with 34 others in the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) Youth Chamber Choir. "I can clearly hear my heartbeat on stage."

Her excitement is due to the choir's upcoming performance on Wednesday at the center's famed music hall, which usually hosts concerts for big names like tenor Jos Carreras, soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, piano maestro Lang Lang and conductor Seiji Ozawa.

From 18 to 35 years old, singers in the NCPA's first youth chamber choir have professions ranging from teacher or lawyer to judge, IT engineer and college student.

The opportunity to sing at the renowned venue was offered by the NCPA, which long had the idea of doing something more than simply operating China's top performance venue to promote music education and popularize the arts.

A notice on the center's website in 2008 soliciting participants drew more than 400 applicants. Thirty-five singers were carefully selected after interviews. Despite their wide range of careers, all members have the same passion for choral singing, said Jiao Miao, the group's administrator.

The choir rehearses every Sunday from 6 to 9 pm, and far more often as performances draw near. "We need to rehearse every night before actual performances," said Jiao.

"It is a tremendous pressure on people who have other jobs. But surprisingly everyone shows up on time and puts their heart into the show."

"Some of us sometimes need to return to the office again after rehearsal but we do cherish every single minute of singing," said Guo Linghan, a 26-year-old who works at a public relation company.

The group's whole-hearted efforts have paid off, at least in the eyes of a leading conductor.

"The choir is a pleasant surprise," said Wu Lingfen, a senior professor at the China Conservatory of Music.

"They may not be trained professionally, but their devotion to music and their well-educated backgrounds give them a better understanding of what's behind the songs than some professional groups."

"I've never treated them as amateurs," said Wu, 64. "They are singers with another job."

Their training includes musical theory and the history of great musicians, from both the East and the West, along with famous musical pieces. The chorus sings in multiple languages - Chinese, English, Italian and German. "From traditional Chinese folk songs to Bach or Handel's pieces, you can see our progress," Wu said.

Since their debut last August, the choir has performed extensively in various concerts that presented 40 famous pieces. It has now received invitations to attend choral festivals overseas, said Jiao.

Their musical journey continues as the choir prepares for a new concert in the NCPA from February 3 to 5. Half of their program is new for them.

"You will see our potential to be a first-class choir in the new show," said Shi Lei, who is a judge.

"For me it is a dream-come-true moment that started with my childhood hobby."

(China Daily 02/01/2010 page28)