The 13th World Choir Games 2024 concluded on 20 July in New Zealand, where the Nibun Chorus from Liugui, Kaohsiung, emerged victorious from over 200 choirs. They won two gold medals in the categories of Folk and Indigenous Music with Accompaniment and Contemporary Mixed Voice Music. Their melodious singing, akin to heavenly voices, amazed the judges. The following day, on 21 July, the choir, led by conductor Jun-Zhi CHEN, visited Fo Guang Shan Auckland again at the invitation of Abbess Manshin. They performed a Bunun song to honour and thank Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founder of Fo Guang Shan. FGS Director of Executive Council Venerable HuiChuan, who was in Europe chairing the International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Executive Conference, specially recorded a video to congratulate the choir on their achievements.
Many members of the choir were survivors of the 2009 Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. At that time, Venerable HuiChuan, appointed by the Venerable Master, served as the Chief Director for the Flood Disaster Relief. Ven HuiChuan expressed his joy at seeing the students grow up healthy and win international gold medals, saying, Congratulations to everyone on winning 2 Gold Medals in the World Choir Games. Fo Guang Shan served as a crucial refuge during the flood disaster, providing significant support. We are also delighted to have supported you in the New Zealand World Choir Games, and we wish you safe and auspicious travels and continued success in future competitions.
Only with a pure mind can one produce pure sounds, just as because of the Venerable Master’s compassionate heart, Fo Guang Shan Temples around the world exist, said Abbess Manshin. Abbess led the assembly in reporting to the Grand Master, Compassionate Grand Master, today we have nearly a hundred students from Liugui, Kaohsiung, who after 16 years under the care and love of their teachers and the community, have grown up and taken on responsibilities. They will now sing a song, The Benevolent of Mother’s Eyes, to thank you for your life-saving kindness. The choir’s heavenly voices resonated throughout the space, filling it with pure and elegant melodies.
Conductor CHEN shared that the song, like a mother’s loving gaze, brings strength and courage to people’s hearts, reflecting the compassion and warmth of the Venerable Master. He attributed their two gold medals to the Grand Master’s blessings and expressed gratitude for the Abbess’s support and hospitality before and after the competition. The students also expressed their thanks for the abundant food prepared by the Temple, including pastries, snacks, fruits and beverages, which rejuvenated them and greatly helped with the final competition.
As a dentist, CHEN mentioned his experience in identifying disaster victims through dental records during the Morakot Flood Disaster, emphasising the profound power of faith. He noted that faith can help recover from severe disasters, stressing the importance of making the voices of Liugui heard. He shared his deep gratitude to Fo Guang Shan Auckland for supporting and showing kindness to the team, which had been one of the blessings and highlights of the trip.