<h1>The 2019 Asian International Choir Competition and Peace and Friendship Arts Festival was successfully concluded in Tokyo</h1>
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Spring Voices Junior Choir from Hunan Province, China won the Youth Division (see ↑video)
Tokyo, August 14 (Huang Chengyang reports) Yesterday, August 13, during Japan's traditional Obon holiday, even the usually crowded rush hour seemed idle. However, at the Kamedo Cultural Center in Tokyo's Edo Ward, the crowds are boiling and the heat is overwhelming. Because on this day, the 2019 Asian International Choir Competition and Peace and Friendship Arts Festival was held here.
Moderators Wu Han and Yu Jia
The festival was organized by the Organizing Committee of the Asian International Choir Competition and received strong support from the Ministry of Culture of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, the Japan-China Friendship Association and other relevant units. The festival was attended by more than 350 people from 13 groups from Japan, China and Korea. In addition to the choral competition, artistic performances including solo singing, performance of ethnic instruments and tai chi were also brought to the audience. Wu Hanhe and Yu jia served as the host of the festival.
President Jia Jiangna announced the opening of the festival
At 1:30 p.m., Ms. Jia Jiangna, President of the Organizing Committee, announced the opening of the festival, and Mr. Mitsuharu Yazaki of the Japan-China Friendship Association delivered an opening speech. Mr. Yazaki spoke highly of the event, pointing out that it was the cultural exchange activities that were deeply rooted in the people of Asia that provided a solid foundation for friendship among the peoples of Asia.
Mr. Yazaki of the Japan-China Friendship Association delivered a speech
The six artists who served as judges for the competition were: Anthony Cornell, Principal Conductor of the Belkent Chamber Orchestra, Lee Seung-hee, Chorus Conductor of the Little Angel Art Troupe of the Korean Cultural Foundation, Soprano Mitoseri Suzuki, President of Masaki Music School Kazuki, Soprano Soprano Chin-yi, and Professor Yamamoto Yukimasa of the Ministry of Music Education of the National University of Music.
The Spring Voice Choir, which won the Gold Medal in the Youth Category
The first to take the stage was the Spring Voices Youth Choir from Hunan Province, China. Founded in 2015, the troupe's chief conductor and artistic director, Yang Ping, is a member aged 11 to 17. This time, they competed in the Russian folk song "Beautiful Far Away" and the American song "Java Jive". The children's innocent children's voices and lively performances not only impressed the judges, but also won warm applause from the audience.
Chiba's Choir for High School Students
Subsequently, the high school choir il coro da sogne from Chiba, the Chinese Art Troupe composed of Chinese in Japan, the Japanese Elderly Purple Grass Choir with the theme of peace and anti-war, the Chie Chorus Chorus choir of four middle school graduates from Chiba, the Korean female choir in Japan, and the Mozart Memorial Choir from all over Japan successively took the stage to participate, and the wonderful singing voices aroused the applause and applause of the audience from time to time.
Huaxia Art Troupe Choir
Next, twelve groups and individuals participating in the Peace and Friendship Arts Festival took the stage to perform the folk dance "Corolla Dance" performed at the Dance Department of the Korean Women's Association in Japan, "Nocturne in the Vineyard" sung by the Choir of the Japanese Chinese Women's Exchange Association, and the theme song of the Japanese animation film "Stay with Me".
Korean female choir in Japan
In addition, the Japanese songs "I and the Bird and the Bell" and "Dusk" sung by the Water Wheel Choir with disabilities, "War Horse Galloping" performed by erhu artist Li Yingzi, and "Walking Forward with Heads Held High" and "Bus Song" sung by the students and graduates of Chiba High School.
Mozart Memorial Choir
Including the Japanese song "Autumn in the Countryside" sung by the Japanese Alumni Association Choir of Shanghai University and the Chinese song "Thousands of Rivers and Mountains Are Always Love", "Yoga for the Actors" performed by Yoshida Bae, and the Tibetan dance "Snow Mountain Love" performed by the Dance Department of the Huaxia Art Troupe.
Chorus "The Flower of Peace"
In addition, the Mozart Memorial Choir sang "Ode to the Eucharist", the Japanese Yin and Yang Society performed Taijiquan Taijiquan Tai Chi Fan, the soprano singer Qin Qianyi sang the opera aria "Walking on the Street", and the Japanese Regenerated Earth Choir sang the suite "Regenerated Earth: Fushun War Criminals Management Center" (downsized version).
Purple Grass Choir
Towards the end, the Purple Grass Choir, the Regenerated Earth Choir, the Chinese Women's Exchange Association Choir in Japan and the Huaxia Art Troupe took the stage together and sang "The Flower purple grass of peace" in Japanese and Chinese, and the exciting singing brought the festival to the climax.
Adult champion Chie Chorus Chorus
After deliberation by the judges, the first prize in the youth group was finally won by the Spring Voice Junior Choir, while the crown in the adult group fell on Chie Chorus Chie Chorus. The judges presented award certificates to the teams that won the gold, silver and bronze awards. The festival came to a successful conclusion amid the friendly exchanges between the people of various countries.
The judges took a group photo with the heads of various groups
Yan An, Director of the Tokyo Chinese Aid Center of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and President He Naihe of the All Japan Overseas Chinese Federation, attended the festival. Zhang Jianbo, president of the China-Japan Volunteer Association, and other members provided free services for the event.
Judge and Chinese flower soprano Qin Qianyi sings the opera aria "Stroll down the street"
Promotional poster for the 2019 Asian International Choir Competition and Peace and Friendship Arts Festival
(Reporting by Toryo Information Network in Tokyo, Japan, edited by Sakura Life)