7:30 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois

New Classic Singers welcomes the Shanghai Women’s Entrepreneur Chorus to Chicago.

Winners of the gold medal at the 8th International Choir Festival in Riva del Garda, Italy, the Shanghai Women's Entrepreneur Chorus is renowned for its performances of traditional Chinese music arranged for women's voices.

New Classic Singers will contribute some of their favorites. Both choirs will combine to sing a traditional Chinese folksong and an American favorite, Randall Thompson's Alleluia.

The Consul General of China to Chicago will provide an introduction.

A free-will offering will be taken to help cover expenses of this concert.

Guest Artists

Choir Leader: Mrs Wang Jia Fen, Chairwoman of Shanghai Female Entrepreneurs Association
Conductor: Mrs Qi Shan Yun, Special Music Teacher of Shibei Senior Middle School; Famed Conductor
Artistic Adviser: Mr Ma Ge Shun, Famed Great Master Conductor

Set up in June 2007, the Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Choir under Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Association is composed of those entrepreneurs who have music talents and love to sing. Coming from enterprises of different ownership, they are outstanding pioneers and runners from industrial, commercial, financial and manufacturing industries, etc.

In May 2008, the choir was invited by the 8th World Choral Festival Vienna & Salzburg with the Vienna Boys Choir. In the world famous music hall – the Golden Hall of Vienna, Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs sang to their hearts’ content to promote the World Expo to be held in 2010 in Shanghai, publicize China and spread friendship and has thus demonstrated their unique charm and elegant demeanor to the world people.

During the Moon Festival in September 2008, the choir was invited to give performances in “2008 Shanghai Mid-Autumn Evening Gathering of People from All Circles”. When their beautiful and harmonious song of Crescent Moon Climbing up ringing in the hall, all audience are much moved and touched by the song.

At the “Commemorating of the 30th Anniversary of Transforming and Opening Door to the Outside World Choirs Evening Show” organized by the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Choir again won high appraisals from all the attendees.

At the «2008 “Love Relay” Charity Singing Concert» co-organized by Shanghai Charity Foundation, Luwan District Government and Shanghai Overseas Friendship Association, Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Choir’s closing song of Shangri-la pushed the Charity Evening Party to the climax, making the performance a great success.

At the 8th International Choir Competition and Festival of Jazz, Gospel, Pop and Secular and Sacred Music Riva del Garda, Italy, the choir won a gold prize in the category of Authentic Folksongs Female Choir.

At the 6th World Choir Games Shaoxing, China, the choir won Silver Medal for Folklore and Bronze Medal for Female Chamber Choirs during the Champions Competition.

Under the famous conductor Mrs Qi’s attentive coaching, the choir has mastered quite a few fine music pieces and has formed its own unique touching and harmonious chorus style. The choir has been receiving care and support from people in all walks of life in Shanghai since its founding.

Director, Mrs Qi Shanyun

Mrs Qi Shanyun is a special grade music teacher at Shanghai Shibei High School. A permanent conductor of Shibei High School Choir, Shanghai Student Art Troupe and the coacher and conductor of Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Choir.

She is a member of Shanghai Musicians Association, council member of the Chorus Committee under the Shanghai Musicians Association. A well-know music teacher in the educational realm in Zhabei District, Shanghai.

Shibei High School Choir, under the coaching and conducting of Mrs Qi Shanyun, has won the 1st grade prize at Shanghai city level choir competition ever since its set up in 1992. Since 1998, the choir has kept the seat as one of Champions.

She has won the 1st prize in Teachers Skills Competition among high school music teachers in Zhabei District; the 2nd prize in Teachers Skills Competition among high school music teachers at city level. She has also been awarded the titles of “Advanced worker” in Zhabei District; “Outstanding Art Teacher” and an excellent woman artist in Shanghai; and an “National Excellent Teacher”.

She has taken the Shibei High School Choir abroad to attend various choir cultural exchange programs or international competitions. For instance:

• Attend the choir cultural exchange performances in Singapore and Malaysia in 2001.
• Participated in the “Second World Choir Festival” in Vienna in 2002, presenting choir performance in the Golden Hall.
• Attend the Third Olympic Chorus Competition in Bremen, Germany in 2004 and on a Silver Medal of the Youth Mixed Voices

She has also taken Shanghai Women Entrepreneurs Choir abroad to attend various international choir competitions, during which the choir has won 1st and 2nd prizes.