The chorus is singing. [Photo by Wen Luyi]

The opening ceremony of Zhongshan Children's Chorus (ZSCC) and a chorus concert were organized at the Zhongshan Culture & Art Center on December 22.

In July this year, ZSCC recruited the first batch of members across Zhongshan. A total of 51 children were finally selected and began to receive formal training in September.

Yang Li, Professor of the Central Conservatory of Music and permanent conductor of the Children's Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra, was invited to take the post of artistic consultant. The chorus also invited Gan Lin, Vice President of the World Youth Choir Artists Association as artistic director. Zhu Ligang, the chorus' permanent conductor, has won the title of "Excellent National Conductor" several times.

On November 30, ZSCC was invited to act in "Carmen" the opera, which was jointly produced by the China National Opera House, the Fujian Song and Dance Theater and the Opera Hong Kong.

At its opening ceremony on December 22, the 51 members performed six famous Chinese and foreign songs for an audience of over 300. The songs included the ancient tune "Everlasting Longing", the film and television interlude "Misty Spring Shower" and the French aria "Chorus of Street-boys" from the opera "Carmen".

"The members are aged between 8 and 15. They will receive two and a half hours' of training courses every Sunday. Besides, we will also have articulation courses, art work analysis courses and others," said Shen Yong, Chairman of Zhongshan Musicians' Association and Head of Zhongshan Children's Chorus. "In the future, we will try to add elements of Zhongshan folk songs, such as salty water songs, to the chorus to create our own characteristics".