Posted on July 28, 2012

Beijing-Xi'an-Chongqing-Wuhan-Shanghai

From singing Varsity and the Victors on the Great Wall, to pandas, and to endless lazy susans; from the baffling realities of communism and to a whole lot of heckling, our trip to China was nothing short of incredible. Every city we visited was a crossroads between old and new. In the daytime we saw religious engravings and artifacts dating back to the 7th century BCE, while at night we performed in newly designed concert halls with mind-blowing acoustics.

Musically, our tour was extremely humbling. Similar to the support we received in Cuba last summer, our concerts were amazingly well attended and received. I don't think anyone could keep from smiling on stage when the Chinese audiences gasped and began clapping the minute we started our set of traditional Chinese songs. In addition to performing in professional venues, we were also fortunate to have two cultural exchanges - one in Beijing with a mixed choir from Tsinghua University and one in Chongqing with a choir at a top primary school. The fact that we were Americans initially made the students very excited, but I often forget the positive effect that our group's music can have on others. The kindness and gratitude we received at each exchange is something I will remember forever.

If you ask each touring clubber what they took away with them from their two weeks in China, I'm assured that there would be a variety of responses. For some it was making new friends inside and outside of club while strengthening existing friendships. For others, it was gaining a sense of cultural enlightenment and understanding. No matter the response, I think that all of us can say that we had the time of our lives.

Thanks again to all of our alumni for your support and a special thanks to those who were able to come to China with us. We truly loved having all of you on tour!

Elliot Faulk