Reported by: GUO Liang
Photographed by: FENG Jian
Translated by: LI Zhijia
Edited by: Jennifer Taylor
They are a business card of HIT.
They make the sound of HIT reverberate in Budapest.
They won the world's attention with beautiful songs.
In late March of this year, in the 14th International Choir Competition and Festival Budapest, the audience applauded and cheered for the young singers of the HIT Chamber Choir MUSICA. With the Latin song Ubi Caritas (True Charity), the Yimeng Folk Song and the English song Dancing in the Fire, they won the silver medal in the Mixed Choirs Without Compulsory Piece Group. The HIT Chamber Choir MUSICA performed with 64 teams from 21 countries including Germany, Italy, Russia, the United States, and Japan. At that moment, in the concert hall, the members were very excited, and many century-old choirs were cheering for this young choir. After the competition, MUSICA was invited by the competition organizing committee to perform in the Friendship Concert to sing songs with strong Asian cultural characteristics, such as the Hayao Miyazaki Animated Movie Suite and Dance of Youth as well as Dancing in the Fire.
May 16, HIT MUSICA and Yale Mixed Company held a friendship concert The Season of Voice. Across geographical and national boundaries, this musical extravaganza brought a visual feast to teachers, students and international friends at HIT.
October 19, HIT MUSICA and the delegation of the 2013 ASRTU Friendship Train held the ASRTU Night---Harbin Show and the audience were attracted by the beautiful music and performances.
How could this little-known choir win the grand award in international competition? How could they do so well in foreign communication? The reason is their enthusiasm for music. They never stopped the pace to pursue their dream. MUSICA was founded in September 2011 and when it was first established, there were only 4 members. They came together because of their love for music. They want to create an artistic atmosphere for the school, and hoped to have the opportunity to tour across the ocean. Gradually, with the increase in members, it has developed to a team with 31 members from 11 Department all over the school and Lara Ek, an English teacher in the School of Foreign Languages. Although the members haven’t learned vocal music, nearly all starting from a zero basis, they have their own unique advantages. Many members know foreign languages, such as Russian, French, Latin, Japanese and Spanish.
"For singing, skill is only one aspect. The most important thing is to put the feelings into the songs. Only with the heart to appreciate the author's feelings, can you touch others’ hearts," the leader of the choir, KANG Ziliang from Honors School said. When they rehearse, they not only pay attention to the sound spectrum, but also stress the emotions. The choir rehearsal works range from Baroque classical chorus to modern jazz chorus, from accompanied chorus to a cappella. “When we analyzed works, KANG’s feelings led everyone to put all his feelings into the song," LIU Xiaoyi from School of Humanities and Social Sciences said. "The feelings of everybody flow in the whole song, and that is the most touching thing." OU Yang Yujing from Honors School said.
One minute on the stage is worth ten years’ practice. Whether weekly routine training, or the Beijing training camp during the Spring Festival, everyone makes full use of every minute. Especially the students on campus 2, they often participate in exercises in bad weather. Their preparation for the trip to Hungary for the contest included a week spent in Beijing practicing for 8-15 hours a day. The hard work paid off in their success in the contest. When they participated in the training camp in Beijing, once the time reached 6 pm, they should stop and rest, but the artistic director of Beijing Forestry University Choir, the artistic director of the Sound of Golden Sail Choir WANG Shuai suddenly rushed over to give them a special class. Everyone hurried to have dinner and continue training without any complaining. The director WANG was moved by their spirit. "It is very rare to get the award!" WANG said excitedly when they returned from the contest.
KANG Ziliang said: “Members of Choir are doing things they really love. I hope we can win awards in the World Olympic Choir Festival and the choir can go farther on the path in the arts.”
MUSICA singing in the concert The Season of Voice with Yale’s Mixed Company
