In spring 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to Beijing through the Volkskulturkreis e. V. to work with local choirs and choir directors. It was my first trip to Asia, and standing alone at the airport, I wondered how it would turn out. In Beijing, I was greeted by a very open-minded and kind host who immediately dispelled all my concerns. He drove me to the hotel before showing me around a part of the city. Beijing is simply impressive in every way, a city of superlatives.

The course began on the second day. My host picked me up at the hotel and took me to the school, where I was able to work with a choir for about three hours every day: one choir in the morning and a second in the afternoon. In addition to the choirs, about 15 choir directors from schools in Beijing were present as course participants. Each choir brought one or two choral pieces, on which I was able to give some comments and tips, vocally, interpretatively, and for the choir directors also in terms of conducting technique. These pieces included well-known compositions by Fauré and Mendelssohn as well as popular music and folkloric literature. I was particularly impressed by the high caliber of the school choirs and their young accompanists, which is rare in Germany. I held the entire course in English due to my lack of Chinese language skills, and a very capable interpreter (herself a school musician) translated.

During the lunch break, I had the opportunity to dine with the school principal, several teachers, and official representatives. The school organized a wonderful buffet for all three days of the course. After the course ended at around 4:00 p.m., I took a short break at the hotel. Then, my host showed me many different places in Beijing, such as Tiananmen Square and downtown Beijing. He also organized great dinners for us every night.

I have fond memories of that week and would like to repeat the experience when the opportunity arises. Experiencing Chinese choral culture firsthand was a very special experience. Once again, I learned that worries and concerns are not worth it and that music connects people across language barriers.