Choir gives rural kids pluck to pursue dreams
Peking University's paired assistance project in Yunnan province's Midu county creates award-winning ensemble
By ZOU SHUO | China Daily Global | Updated: 2026-01-09 08:48
Wang said, "He was extremely strict, but that strictness pushed me to grow fast."
During summer camps, Wang would write rehearsal plans nightly after her baby fell asleep, and Jin would revise them meticulously. He also taught conducting and rehearsal techniques, offering on-the-spot guidance.
This dedication paid off in 2023 when the choir won two gold awards at the China Children's Choir Festival in Yuxi, Yunnan province — a remarkable feat for a group only a year old. Since then, they have earned top honors at the 17th China International Chorus Festival in Beijing in 2024 and the World Choir Festival in Hong Kong in July.
Beyond awards, the choir has transformed children's lives. "Many of them were once uninterested in school, even on the verge of dropping out," Wang said. "But through the choir, they've seen the world outside Midu — they've performed in Beijing, Hong Kong and Sichuan province. This exposure has inspired them to study harder; some who once struggled to get into high school have now been admitted to arts high schools."
