By David Li, translation by Jun Yang
On the afternoon and evening of January 28, Ying Wu’s vocal classes held a Chinese New Year’s concert in Hancock United Church of Christ in Lexington, Mass.
As a special guest, Kristy Lee, New England’s only 24-hour news TV station NECN’s morning news anchor, hosted the concert. The daughter of the Korean-American anchor is also a student of Ms. Ying Wu. Piano accompaniment was by Boston’s renowned pianist David Collins.
Kristy Lee hosting the concert (photo by Mingwei Li).
Nearly 100 boys and girls as well as adult students performed during the concert. Seventeen programs were performed including beautiful songs like “Jasmine”, “Crossing the Rainbow”, “Plant Sun”, “Red Flowers Bright Red,” “Herders Song”. The concert concluded with the Chinese version of the famous Spanish folk song “Spanish Woman” by the adult students.
Ms. Shu Ye, who lives in Acton, an Acton Chinese Language School Choir member, told reporter that she sang with more confidence now by participating in the vocal class. Her singing skills had greatly improved by learning to better control of breathing. Shu’s daughter, Michelle Gong, also a student of Ms. Wu, performed with the children’s class that afternoon.
As a Karaoke fan and an IBM employee, Ying Ma was a student of Andover vocal class of Ms. Wu. She told reporter that she was very pleased to be able to pass New Year greetings by the beautiful singing voices at this special occasion of the Year of Dragon.
Ying Wu and her children class students(photo by Mingwei Li).
It is reported that Ms. Wu graduated from Hangzhou Normal University music performance major, is a mezzo-soprano singer. As a solo singer in Postal Troupe in Beijing after graduation, she was invited in 2007 to star the opera “Carmen” in Zhejiang Opera and Ballet Theater in China. Later at the invitation of Edna Garabedian, the President of the California Opera Association, a famous mezzo-soprano singer, Ying Wu came to America to study opera. Before coming to America, she also taught at Beijing Zhongying Arts School and Hangzhou Municipal Youth Art Center. She gained quite some teaching experience there.
After coming to Boston in 2009, Ms. Wu has made great enhancements in her performing and teaching skills. Her “zero basic vocal pedagogy”, which requires no previous vocal training, is very popular in Chinese communities and has attracted hundreds of students. Some of her students are now active singers of various choruses and performance troupes of greater Boston.
Ying Wu next to David Collins, and the adult students.
Ms. Wu told reporter she was currently applying for the master’s program of the New England Conservatory (NEC). She is also planning a concert titled Dreams of Red Mansions, a Chinese opera based on one of the most famous classic Chinese novels in May 2012. Partners of the planned concert include Boston Silk Bamboo Music School and well-known Chinese conductor Tiansheng Guo. Ms Wu said: “It is my intention to help people better understand the Dream of Red Mansions, and the culture behind it through this concert.”
More details about the Dreams of Red Mansions concert can be obtained via e-mail: [email protected].