From memories of childhood and loved ones to the pressures of urban white-collar workers and the casual incident of a forgotten room key, songs by the Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers have won wide resonance with audiences across China.
Since its founding in 2010, the choral group has been dedicated to the promotion of choral performances and exploring the boundaries of choral artistry. It has released dozens of albums and performed more than 150 live concerts in iconic music halls around China, such as the Beijing Concert Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center and Guangzhou's Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangdong province.
China Global Television Network, or CGTN, once praised the group as "the cultural voice for a new generation". In 2023, the group took second place at the Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain.
Just before the Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb 17, the group performed a mini concert at Grand Gateway 66 Plaza, as part of the Spring Festival celebration of jewelry brand Chow Sang Sang.
Before the event, the founding director of the chorus group, Jin Chengzhi, told China Daily about the group's musical journey and aspirations.
The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Singers started as a choral group consisting of students from the conducting department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where Jin used to study. It has since evolved into a nonprofessional ensemble of almost 100 members, 80 of whom are singers, with others working in management and logistics. They are all seasoned chorus enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds nationwide.
"We have among our members music teachers, corporate workers, public servants, and businesspeople," Jin says. They meet up on weekends for rehearsals, music lessons and concerts. Last year alone, the ensemble performed around 30 concerts. "Some travel all the way from Nanjing (Jiangsu province), Xi'an (Shaanxi province) and Guangzhou every week for years. They have devoted more of their personal time to singing than any other hobby."
One of the sopranos, Zhang Jingjue, has been singing with the group for six years. A piano teacher and chorus coach herself, Zhang says she has gained a lot from the group that is different from her classical music training background. The most important thing she has learned is "how to combine chorus music with modern tunes, and how to make it popular while retaining a high professional level", she told China Daily. She noticed that many music groups in China have been exploring this aspect over the past decade, but few have done as well as the Rainbow Chamber Singers.
