CLOSING CULTURAL GAPS THROUGH MUSIC: CRANE STUDENTS TO PERFORM IN CHINA

Under the guidance of conductor Dr. Rebecca Reames, an associate professor of choral music education at Crane who will accompany the choir, the students’ preparations for the trip are twofold. During weekly practice sessions, they will study their performance pieces and to prepare themselves for the their cultural immersion, students must take turns presenting information about modern Chinese culture to the class.

“The festival is designed to unite people from different cultures and demonstrate that as educators, we are embracing music from a global perspective,” Dr. Reames said. “This experience will help prepare the students for future endeavors as music educators and members of a global world.”

The Crane students will join the Florida State University Singers, led by festival directors Andre Thomas, director of choral activities at FSU School of Music and Kevin Fenton, an FSU assistant professor of choral conducting, in representing the United States at the festival.

The choirs will perform both traditional western songs and Chinese folk songs. The concerts will be held in Beijing at the Tianjin Grand Theater and the Beijing Concert Hall at Xinhua Gate.

“The pieces we will perform present a phenomenal opportunity and challenge for us because we want to convey our aptitude of western music and traditions to another culture and that’s a daunting task-but a very cool one,” senior Jerome Socolof of Ilion said.

Authenticity is another challenge. The choir’s performance includes a set of Chinese folk songs.

“Whenever you sing in another language accuracy is the key,” sophomore Kyle Pogemiller of New Paltz said. “We definitely want to show the audience our efforts to learn the proper inflections and enunciations of their language.”

The festival is held in conjunction with the 2007 All-China Choral Directors Association National Conference and students will have access to bi-lingual choral workshops that can further their academic knowledge, professional experience and cultural awareness.

Besides the workshops and performances, the concert touring organization Music Celebrations International will provide students with a full itinerary that includes visiting Chinese landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. The students are excited about the experience and see this as a life-changing opportunity.

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