On the afternoon of September 21, 2024, the finals of the 9th Global Chinese Classical Singing Competition, organized by NTD TV, concluded successfully at the Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan, New York. The finals were open to the public on-site and were live-streamed on various media platforms.
This competition provided a platform for Chinese classical vocalists to showcase their talents and for the audience to immerse themselves in the unique essence and charm of Chinese traditional culture, leaving them deeply moved and inspired.
One of the attendees, Liu Luan, who had recently moved from mainland China to the United States to pursue a career in finance, expressed her awe at witnessing such a performance for the first time in her life. She was impressed by the freedom and emotional depth displayed by the contestants during their heartfelt performances.
Each contestant’s unique singing style touched Liu Luan’s heart, as she perceived kindness, beauty, and strength in their voices, prompting her to reflect on Chinese traditional culture and its significance in today’s world.
Comparing the competition to mainstream performances in mainland China, Liu Luan noted a stark difference in focus. While mainland performances often cater to popular tastes and lack emphasis on traditional culture, moral values, and spiritual content, the competition in New York delved deep into introspection and aimed to move the audience’s hearts.
Liu Luan expressed a hope that mainland China would also host similar competitions in the future, allowing Chinese voices to be heard and appreciated on a global scale.
Another attendee, Wang Fuhua, a primary school music teacher from Hunan Province, praised the contestants for their incredible vocal range and genuine portrayal of Chinese cultural essence in songs like “Spring River in the Moonlight,” “Little White Cabbage,” and “Orchid Melody,” which left a lasting impact on the audience.
Wang Fuhua commended this year’s contestants for their exceptional skills in singing Chinese songs using the bel canto technique, typically performed in Italian. She highlighted the uniqueness of the competition in attracting Chinese participants from around the world, including herself, who had attended for the third time this year.
Having been passionate about singing since childhood and winning multiple awards in school singing competitions, Wang Fuhua shared her journey of rediscovering her love for classical singing after moving to the United States, where she initially felt hesitant to sing due to self-doubt.
It was not until she encountered the singing technique of Shen Yun performers in 2021 that Wang Fuhua learned the traditional bel canto method, which emphasized genuine vocal projection that penetrates the soul. Mastering this technique allowed her, despite having average vocal abilities, to reach the highest notes.
Inspired by her newfound knowledge, Wang Fuhua now regularly watches Shen Yun performances and learns from the singing tutorials of renowned teacher Tianli to further enhance her bel canto skills.
She aspires to promote Chinese traditional culture through bel canto singing as she believes it is a precious treasure that has been undermined by the communist regime’s influence in mainland China.