A harmonious blend of East and West echoed through Xi'an this week as the One Voice Children's Choir from the United States joined Chinese peers in a landmark cultural exchange program. The initiative, organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange, saw young musicians aged 12-17 collaborate from July 6-9 through workshops, joint rehearsals, and public performances.
"Music became our shared vocabulary," said choir director Masa Fukuda, noting how participants explored both Chinese folk melodies and American classics. The young artists visited historical sites including the Terracotta Warriors Museum, where they performed an impromptu rendition of the Tang Dynasty poem Song of the Unending Sorrow set to original music.
Organizers emphasize the program's timing amid evolving China-US relations. "These interactions plant seeds for long-term understanding," stated CEAIE spokesperson Li Wei. The event concluded with a bilingual performance of You Raise Me Up at Xi'an Concert Hall, streamed to over 200,000 viewers globally.
