The sound of rural music

Village school choirs enthrall audiences in Beijing and beyond, championing the cause of confidence-building among underprivileged children, Chen Nan reports.

Music is the strongest form of magic, they say, and it was indeed when an ensemble of young singers from humble homes took center stage at the iconic China National Opera House to belt out a tribute to everyday heroes.

The new opera house in downtown Beijing, which opened this summer and has been a popular hub of classical dramas and ballet productions, hosted Childhood on the Ridge－2022 Concert of Art in Action on Aug 14, offering rural school choirs a golden opportunity to regale urban audiences.

A bunch of 151 children from eight village schools performed onstage that evening, the livestreaming of their concert drawing more than 100,000 views online. Their singing may not have been technically flawless like professionals, but their unbridled enthusiasm had spectators glued to the seats.