[Thailand] Huang Chin, Shenzhen University
I have a passion for music. One of the most precious memories of my life as a foreign student at Shenzhen University (SZU) is the happy time with the International Choir.
I joined the International Choir in my sophomore year because I had been attracted to the International Choir’s creative way of singing during one of their on-campus performances, in which they presented musical pieces without any musical instruments, relying entirely on the vocals to beat the rhythm and present the music in a chorus of different voices. I was so excited about the form of singing that I had the idea of being a member of the SZU International Choir.
My first song to practice after I joined the choir was Your Answer. It was rehearsed and recorded online because the choir members were in different regions of the world and could not get together during the epidemic. The song was then rearranged and produced as an uplifting song for the fight against the epidemic. So I chose for the shoot a poorly illuminated spot to deliver the imagery of the lyrics: “The light in the dawn will pierce the darkness, and I’ll find the answer after defeating all fears ...” The scene of the dawn piercing through the darkness to bring hope to people was effectively presented by the sharp contrast from darkness to brightness in the video. After overcoming various difficulties, in the end, our team completed the production of this song.
We hoped that it would be a blessing to those under the gloom of the epidemic, and that the power of music would help people to get through the difficult time and fill the world with love!
At the end of that year, we were invited by the Beijing Silk Road & Young Dreams to give a performance in Beijing Many ambassadors and diplomats in China were present. We were both excited and nervous. Thankfully we did a great job. In addition to Your Answer, we sang two other songs, Friends and Suddenly I Miss You. When we reached the climax of the song, the audience clapped to the rhythm. After the performance, the audience gave us a thunderous applause. With the sincerity and emotions, we international students presented the audience with a wonderful audio-visual feast. Our performance was even reported by CCTV and People’s Daily. It was a great honor for every one of us in the International Choir. And it will never be forgotten. The performance made me miss the choir members far away.
Although the epidemic prevented us from meeting each other physically, it did not break off our friendship across borders. I sincerely hope that the epidemic will end soon and the world return to its former calm as soon as possible.
Since I started working at music, I have been involved in the production of several songs such as Let the World be Filled with Love, Friends, Countries and When the Ice is Shinning. Each time we had new members joining the choir, where we could take delight of music and friendship and experience the cultural interaction and communication. We were like an international family, full of fondness and unbreakable emotional ties.
Looking back on those wonderful times, I am sure that the choir witnessed my growth on the road of music, from an inexperienced one with nervousness at the beginning to a performer with confidence now. This experience has added a beautiful glow to my study and life in China I have met friends from different countries and felt the warmth that crosses time, space and national boundaries. In the choir, the bond of music has built a platform for cultural exchange and friendship connection regardless of country, language, race or religion. It has helped me not to confine myself to my own emotional feelings but to cherish every beautiful moment of my study-abroad life. It has afforded the possibility of using music to show the beauty of China and the extraordinary stories of the ordinary life of studying in China. It has taught me to use music to spread beauty and positive energy, to bring hope and strength to people, and to make every corner of the world free from loneliness!
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
