Arts Activities Support

The Forgotten Treasures concert sponsored by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council AAS grant was successful. Over 100 professional and amateur artists participated in the project. The concert attracted more than 1200 spectators. 67% of the survey respondents indicated the Forgotten Treasures concert being one of the best concerts produced by local Chinese arts group in the recent years. (1) Our main goal was to produce a full-length concert featuring Chinese Popular Songs and Art Songs from the Modern Era (1920s-1940s) that were banned due to political censorship between 1949 and 1978, and never again re-introduced systematically. We performed a number of choral songs written in the Modern Era: “Lift Your Veil,” “Joy of A Snowflake,” “Tuberoses,” “Shepherdess,” in the concert. (2) The Xinxing School choir also performed in the concert with two wonderful songs of the Modern Era: “Look for Plum Flowers in the Snow,” “Little Birds.” (1) Our main goal was to produce a full-length concert featuring Chinese Popular Songs and Art Songs from the Modern Era (1920s-1940s) that were banned due to political censorship between 1949 and 1978, and never again re-introduced systematically. We performed a number of choral songs written in the Modern Era: “Lift Your Veil,” “Joy of A Snowflake,” “Tuberoses,” “Shepherdess,” in the concert. (2) The Xinxing School choir also performed in the concert with two wonderful songs of the Modern Era: “Look for Plum Flowers in the Snow,” “Little Birds.” The communities that the “Forgotten Treasures” concert intended to serve included: the Chinese community in the metro area, students and Americans who are interested in Chinese culture; and the senior Chinese community. Our success was above and beyond our goals. The concert itself attracted more than 1200 audience from the local Chinese community. In addition, the project involved three guest artists from Chicago. As for serving the second community: students and Americans who are interested in Chinese culture. The concert attracted about 250 students and non-Chinese spectators. We also had one American student serving as the Masters of Ceremony for the concert; Chinese and American audiences were really impressed with his Chinese language skill and understanding of Chinese culture. The singing performance given by guest artists: Mr. Tong Tao (Tenor), Ms. Vanessa Liao (Soprano), and Ms. Amy C. Youngquist (Mezzo-soprano) was another success story. They received many rounds of applause and cheers from audience. As for the third community the concert intended to serve, the senior Chinese community, we were told by many of them that the songs we chose really brought back their memory and touched their hearts. Compared to our previous production concerts, our efforts in reaching out to the senior Chinese had enhanced our relationship with the senior Chinese community. Their input and guidance had definitely helped us to accurately re-stage the vocal arts and styles of the Chinese Modern Era (1920s – 1940s).