Coinciding with the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Shaoxing, the 6th World Choir Games brought stunning harmonies to the city on July 15th, 2010.

Held every other year for more than a decade, the World Choir Games are sometimes nicknamed the “Choir Olympics”. The 2010 installment attracted over 400 choirs from 83 countries and regions to perform in over 100 concerts.

“China is an ancient civilization with vocal acrobatics thousands of years old,” remarked World Choir Games (WCG) artistic director Dr. Ralf Eisenbeis. “Shaoxing is home to a long history and a profound cultural foundation. Bridges are as vital to this watery city as to cultural exchanges. The choir competitions feature songs from a variety of countries, becoming like choral bridges to promote mutual understanding and ultimately world peace.”

African Passion

Scheduling put the World Choir Games right on the heels of football’s World Cup held in South Africa. The sporting competition injected considerable excitement and passion throughout the continent of Africa, which was also evident in the efforts of their singers at the WCG.

The day we arrived in Shaoxing, we had the pleasure of seeing South Africa’s Kearsney College Male Choir rehearse. The room was crowded with 52 singers whose bobbing heads moved rhythmically. A slogan on the wall reads: “People become great due to dreams while they succeed due to actions.”

“Up and down, hurry up, go...” instructed a leader as the group practiced squatting and rising in unison. The tinkling of pianos, pounding of drums, and hum of voices reverberated through the building. The rehearsal was so passionate that curious onlookers crowded just outside the door to sneak a peek.