Our Peiyang Chorus Takes Championship at International Choral Festival

Tianjin University’s Peiyang Chorus bagged numerous first place golden awards during the recently concluded “A Voyage of Songs (AVOS) 2019 International Choral Festival”, which lasted from July 19th to the 22nd. The wonderful event was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

First held in Malaysia in 2003, the AVOS International Choral Festival has since become one of the world’s leading choral competitions. Our own Peiyang Chorus took home numerous prizes including first place awards in the categories of Sacred Music, Mixed Choir, and Chamber Choir, as well as the Best Conductor Award by the chorus’ leader Wen Yuchuan, a young teacher from Tianjin University (TJU). The Chorus also snatched the Grand Prize.

The jury of judges for this year’s competition included renowned experts from China, the United States and Canada. In the final performance from the Peryang Chorus, they performed the modern pieceA Silence Haunts Meand their original workMicrocosmos, which received unanimous acclaim from the panel and professionals from all over the globe as well as fans. Nelson Kwei, chairman of organizing committee for the chorus festival, commented that “Peiyang Chorus is a rare Asian college chorus group that can keep abreast of the world-class ones in view of its proper handling of works, sensible vocalization and deep foundation”.

“For us, this competition is a baptism in thought as well as an exchange and improvement of art. When the chairman announced that our exceptional Peiyang Chorus won the championship, all Chinese in attendance became loudly jubilant and shouted ‘China! China!’. At that moment, I was not only proud as a Chinese, but also excited that our Five-Star Red Flag flew on the international stage!” said Liao Wenwei, leader of the choir and, a student who enrolled in 2017 at Qiushi Honors College, TJU.

In 2003, TJU’s Peiyang Chorus participated in the first festival as its debut and, was awarded two gold and three silver medals. Roaring back, the chorus demonstrated the development level of art education in Tianjin University with the achievements of the “Grand Slam”. Over the past 16 years, it has engaged in various international high-level competitions and received numerous world prizes, which has promoted external exchange and, has displayed the exceptional demeanor of Chinese college students through “a voice of TJU”.

By: Li Qian

Editors: Harlan Haverback, Sun Xiaofang