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In Shenzhen University, there is a special choir – Shenzhen University International Choir. It is mainly composed of international students from South Korea, Thailand, Russia, Iran, Venezuela and other countries, mainly singing original Chinese songs. These beautiful songs are full of what international students have seen, heard, and felt in China, and every time they are released, they can receive praise from all sides.
“Year after year, day after day, never wait until the good days gone… “The beautiful melody, emotional interpretation, and standard Chinese pronunciation make it difficult for the audience to imagine this is a choir composed of international students if only listening to music.
Choir leader Shin Moonsub (申文燮) from South Korea said that due to their love for music and passion for learning Chinese, everyone has overcome cultural differences and come together. During rehearsal and performance, the members showed strong centripetal force force and team spirit. Even though there were many inconveniences in shooting during the epidemic, they still overcame various difficulties through online communication and created excellent works.
Many people are curious about how such an international choir was born? Shin recalled: “In 2016, I saw the performance of Yale University Male Oratorio Choir in the Concert Hall of Shenzhen University, and inspired by it, I had the idea of establishing an international choir.” So, with the support and assistance of the school, the Shenzhen University International Choir was established.
At first, the choir had fewer than 10 members, but the members were enthusiastic and actively helped Shin complete recruitment, publicity, rehearsals, performances, and other work. At the same time, Shin actively created and controlled every aspect from song production to finding stages and renting clothing. With everyone’s efforts, the choir grew up and gradually gained fame and reputation.
From 2016 to 2023, the choir has completed more than 60 performances and competitions, leaving their voice and footprints in the campus of Shenzhen University, Guangzhou, Beijing and other places in Guangdong.
More importantly, just like the Yale University Male Oratorio Choir attracted Shin’s attention, the Shenzhen University International Choir Group also attracted many international students to be part of it with its unique style of “Music without Borders“.
Thai international student Chin Huang (黄伟豪) said that before becoming a member of the choir, he had watched many live performances of the group. During one of the Akabella choruses, everyone sang without any instrument accompaniment, and different vocal lines mixed together very thoroughly, making the scene sound very impressive. Chin said that after listening again and again, he had the idea of joining the choir.
Anastasiia Fisenko (富星) from Russia is a “veteran member” who joined in 2016 and has always enjoyed singing. “In order to continue this hobby and make more friends, I chose to become a member of the Shenzhen University International Choir,” said Anastasiia.
Anastasiia stated that in the past 7 years, what particularly moved her was that the choir never “stopped” even during the pandemic. Post production personnel collected videos recorded by members and then organized them into a complete work. Music has helped everyone overcome obstacles and brought students from different countries together closely.
At present, the choir has more than 20 members, and every year during the graduation and opening seasons, everyone “comes and goes”. Some leave with beautiful memories of being in the choir, while others come with the desire to express their feelings through singing. Everyone has the same wish – to sing the song of Chinese and sing what they have seen and heard in China.
