Chinese Farmers' Choir Joins New Year Celebrations in the UK

The Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir at their dress rehearsal at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday, February 23, 2018.[Photo: China Plus/Duan Xuelian]

A Chinese farmer's choir from Yunnan has made an impressive debut in the UK, staging a series of New Years concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London.

A group of chorus singers from Yunnan has become the talk of town in London as they prepare for a number of concerts to be held jointly with the acclaimed Philharmonia Orchestra.

Their dress rehearsal at London's Royal Festival Hall has drawn a lot of media interest.

This is the choir's second international performance following a successful tour in New York last week.

All members of the Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir are from the Miao ethnic minority from the remote village of Xiaoshuijing.

They're amateur singers who have made their name by performing music with exceptionally high standards.

Choirmaster Zhang Xiaoming says music comes naturally to the villagers of Xiaoshuijing.

He says choir singing is a local tradition that dates back to more than a hundred years in the village.

"They have an exceptionally accurate sense of music. In the village, almost everyone from children to the elderly are musically talented. Although they've never received professional music training, you hardly ever find them singing off-key, which is very impressive. I think music is in their genes."

Like her fellow choir members, 31-year old Zhang Qiongxian started to sing when she was a little girl.

She says choir singing has opened a door to the outside world.

"People are coming all the way to visit us which has made our small village almost like a tourist destination. We are not well known and lived a secluded life before this. But now this is beginning to change. Singing has made our lives better."

The Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir will perform alongside renowned Chinese conductor Yu Long and 13-year old piano prodigy Serena Wang.

Lady Linda Wong Davies is the chair of the KT Wong Foundation, an independent charity that has invited the Farmer's Choir to the UK.

"They are so incredible, the music are beautifully sung. They obviously worked very hard. You know they don't read music, so they listen to it and then it was transposed to them in special notation, the choral master teaches them word by word, note by note. It takes a long time, about six months to learn one piece of music but they sing it very well. It is very wonderful to bring this Miao minority group chorus to the UK. They will sing not just Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, they will also sing their own folk songs as well as a few other surprises. "

During their time in the UK, the Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir will also travel to Oxford and Liverpool before coming to London for their grand finale.

John Watts was one of the guests at their dress rehearsal on Friday.

"They certainly come across as being professional and enjoying what they are doing which is probably the most important thing. And being able to see them on one of Europe, indeed the world's biggest stages for classical music is a real privilege, not just for them but also for the audience here in the UK."

The Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir at their dress rehearsal at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday, February 23, 2018.[Photo: China Plus/Duan Xuelian]

One member of the Xiaoshuijing Farmer's Choir takes questions during an interview after the choir’s dress rehearsal at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday, February 23, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Duan Xuelian]