The Yangtze River Performing Arts concert in Toronto united voices from Chinese, Italian, Ukrainian and Latin American communities

By Meena Ma

Thirteen years ago, on a quiet evening in Toronto, entrepreneur Susan Xu stumbled upon an event listing for the Yangtze River Performing Arts (YRPA) Choir. She loved music but never had the opportunity to learn. At that moment, she decided to give it a try, as she had always loved listening to the choir. She didn’t expect that this decision would reignite her passion for music and bring her into a world where melody transcends language and cultural boundaries.

“I have no formal training,” Xu recalled. “But from the moment I joined, I knew it was something I truly loved.”

In the 1980s, she and her husband, Jian Zhang, immigrated to Canada, where they built a thriving food delivery business from scratch. For decades, their lives revolved around entrepreneurship and experienced the ups and downs of a growing company. However, in 2012, as Ms. Xu entered her 40s, she began to think about life beyond her work.

“We were always busy, always working,” she says. “But after a while, you start asking yourself — what else is there? What have I left behind?”  

The answer came in the form of an unexpected encounter.

At that time, Xiaohu Li, a famous Chinese opera actor and national first-class performer, happened to live in their home and gave vocal guidance to the students. As a senior actor at the China National Opera House and a winner of the Plum Blossom Award, Li had already made his mark in China before immigrating to Canada and continued to perform and teach in Canada.

Li noticed Xu’s interest and also encouraged her husband, Zhang, who had never sung before, to try to join the choir together.

In 2012, the couple joined the YRPA and entered a music world they never thought they would fall in love with.

“At the moment I started to sing at the first rehearsal, I knew I had found my second home,” Xu said. “I realized that it’s not just about singing to me — it’s about belonging.”

What began as a casual interest soon turned into a lifelong passion. Xu has now become one of the senior members of its mission to bridge cultures through music. This mission was on full display at the YRPA Multicultural Choral Concert held at the Fairview Library Theatre on Jan. 11 – an evening where voices from around the world came together in harmony.

The concert was filled with an array of music, from choirs representing Chinese, Italian, Ukrainian and Latin American communities performing in their languages to highlight the diversity of their cultural backgrounds and traditions at the event, sponsored by the New Horizons for Seniors Program, that demonstrated how music can unite people and foster stronger community connections. 

The evolution of Yangtze River Performing Arts 

YRPA was founded in 1996 by a group of international students from China. Their first rehearsal was at someone’s basement. Now, almost 30 years have passed, and YRCA has 60 members. In total, YRPA had more than 1,000 people registered, and they have performed at various events over 700 times.

Over the years, YRPA has performed many traditional Chinese choral muscles, and now its repertoire has expanded to include opera, small ensembles, duets, solo performances and Cham Shang shows. Despite financial challenges, the YRPA has become a cornerstone of Toronto’s multicultural arts community.

This success is because of the dedication of YRPA’s members and leadership. Lirong Huang, an immigrant from mainland China, took over the leadership two years ago during the pandemic and worked tirelessly to secure funding, organize events, and reignite the choir’s artistic drive. Huang played a pivotal role in revitalizing the group over the last few years, particularly during the pandemic. 

“Although we have faced many challenges along the way, our love for music has kept us going,” Huang said. “Because music can connect people in a way that language cannot.”

“This concert is more than just a performance, it’s about celebrating our differences and finding common ground,” Deputy Director Xin Yan reflects on the complex planning process behind the multicultural choral concert. 

“It is the first time that we independently planned and organized a multicultural choral concert,” Yan explained. “In the past 29 years, we have participated in numerous performances organized by others, but this time, we hosted it ourselves, which was a valuable experience.”

The decision to organize the concert independently was a bold one and required careful consideration.

Ming Li, a veteran member and the event’s production coordinator and stage supervisor, describes the leadership team’s vision:  

“We knew that multiculturalism should be celebrated through collaboration. But how? Should we host a gala featuring Toronto’s renowned singers and dancers? Could we curate a concert that reflected both YRPA’s artistic identity and the broader multicultural landscape, all within a limited budget?”  

Ultimately, the team decided that a large-scale multicultural choral concert was the best approach. Their internationally recognized conductors, highly experienced members (over 70 per cent with more than a decade of choral experience), and history of collaborations with other ethnic ensembles provided a strong foundation.  

However, the preparation process was not without obstacles. Stage equipment limitations, particularly the lack of professional choir risers, meant they had to rent foam risers to ensure visibility and precision during performances. To prevent damage, female choir members were advised against wearing high heels on stage. 

Another challenge involved stage projection equipment, which cast unflattering shadows on performers’ faces. After multiple adjustments, the team found an effective solution. 

The YRPA’s continued success is from the dedication and hard work of every member. When it comes to this multicultural concert, two key figures deserve special mention: Lihua Zhang, the longest-serving member of YRPA, and Hill Zhang, a quiet new member who played a vital role in making this concert possible.

Lihua Zhang was one of the initiators of this concert, and her efforts successfully obtained government funding. Since joining the choir in 2005, she has dedicated 20 years to its development. In the past, YRPA has applied for government funding many times but with little success. Having worked in government agencies for 20 years, she says that the key to a successful application is to effectively showcase the choir’s history, achievements and contributions to society.

Having recently undergone hip surgery, Zhang was unable to stand on the day of the performance. Yet, her determination and passion drove her to deliver a heartfelt performance despite the physical challenges. Jiang’s resilience and passion of music touched every audience and created one of the concert’s most moving moments.

After securing the funding, the group faced another critical task: representing multiculturalism by inviting choirs from various communities. Hill Zhang, a construction project manager in Toronto, joined YRPA in 2022 and helped with this process. 

He was the perfect candidate to represent YRPA to the non-Chinese choirs at the multicultural concert due to his proficiency in communicating in English.

“It was everyone’s effort in the group,” Yan says. “We also had to set up the venue and transport the equipment for the event. That needed an entire group effort.”

Five choirs, four cultures  

The concert started with YRPA’s first classic Chinese piece, “How Can I Not Think of Her?”  The conductor, Yanqiao Wang, is a respected composer and musical artist in China and the Chinese community in Canada.

Yanqiao Wang’s musical career has covered multiple historical periods and regions. He was admitted to the China Youth Art Theatre Orchestra in 1952 and, four years later, entered the Central Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition under the tutelage of renowned masters, including Zuqiang Wu. Wang was one of the composers of the renowned piece: The Red Detachment of Women, a popular work in modern Chinese ballet.

Wang said that the members of the YRPA are well-educated Chinese immigrants who have been in Canada for many years, are they have one common trait is that they all love choral singing. “It was a delight to work with such a dedicated group of people who not only brought music to the stage but also brought their heart-felt Chinese culture to the stage.” 

Wang also mentioned that YRPA has always been devoted to the promotion of Chinese culture. They are not just performing in these concerts but also presenting the richness and beauty of Chinese heritage to the public. 

Among the six songs performed by YRPA, three were conducted by Shek Ko, a renowned Toronto-based conductor. Shek Ko has won multiple international music awards and possesses extensive experience in conducting. Ko received bachelor’s degrees in piano and mathematics from the University of South Carolina before getting a master’s in choral conducting. She has served as a choral conductor for prestigious Canadian ensembles in Ontario.

Ko shared a touching moment which happened after the show: Yanqiao Wang, the conductor of the YRPA, and  Alexander Veprinskiy, the Ukrainian conductor, sat in the middle of the stage and came up with a duet on the piano. Despite the language barrier, music became their common means of communication. 

When Wang was singing a Ukrainian song, he was very touched by the memory from years ago when he was learning this song, and tears appeared on his face. It exemplifies how music can transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.

The Cantemos Upper Canada Choristers performed after YRPA. They are a chamber choir known for their a cappella performances, and they performed three songs under the direction of Laurie Evan Fraser.

Their setlist featured four Latin American classics, rich in regional character and rhythm. With their pure vocal harmonies, they transported the audience into a world of South American musical heritage, filling the theatre with energy and authenticity. 

The third choir to perform was the Toronto Chinese Ai Yue Philharmonic Arts Centre, a prominent ensemble in Toronto’s multicultural music scene, under the direction of Tao Shen. They are known for their deep musical foundation and captivating choral artistry, they delivered an emotionally compelling performance, illustrating the power of blending Eastern and Western influences. 

Following the Toronto Chinese Ai Yue Philharmonic Arts Centre is the Shevchenko Choir, a 76-year-old ensemble that took the stage under the baton of Alexander Veprinskiy. Known for preserving Ukraine’s rich choral traditions, their performance showcased three distinct works, highlighting the evolution of Ukrainian music.  

The Shevchenko Choir has expanded its musical diversity over the years, seamlessly integrating contemporary elements while staying true to its cultural roots. 

Alexander Veprinskiy, conductor of the Shevchenko Choir, praised the show’s organization. “The attention to detail was impressive,” Veprinskiy said. “There are many ideas we might consider applying to our future concerts, such as how to organize an event like this.”

Closing the night was the Coro San Marco Choir, an ensemble founded in 1995 by Daniel Colla and a group of Venetian music enthusiasts. Over the years, this choir has transformed into a multicultural collective, with members from various backgrounds, reflecting the inclusive spirit of Italian music. 

They performed various songs, ranging from folk to classical, and with great passion, the audience could almost feel the wind in Venice and sense the greatness of Italian opera. With the vocal harmony and the good melody, they made the set represent the spirit of Italian musical culture. 

The YRPA’s piano accompaniment by Vera Li and Yisi Huang was an excellent addition to the concert. Their subtle and accurate performance provided the perfect background to the event and brought the music to life for the audience. 

Zhen Kai Wu and Eddie Chen were another evening highlight as they performed a stunning four-hand piano concert of Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, sending the crowd into a spell with their coordination and technical mastery. Li’s solo piece on Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G Minor was as moving as the audience could feel the emotions she wanted to convey through the music.

Yisi Huang, a 17-year-old pianist from Oshawa, showed a rare dedication to the instrument and continues to volunteer as the choir’s accompanist.  She makes the round trip of nearly 100 kilometres, weekly.

The basis of her commitment is her family, who stand behind her without words to encourage her. Every time she has rehearsals, she makes sure she is on time, giving her complete concentration to practice since her parents bring her to every rehearsal. 

Through such support, the spirit of a team that defines the choir is achieved. This teamwork and corporate effort of the musicians on stage and the families at home made the multicultural choral concert a great success in demonstrating the artistic achievement and the might of the community and cooperation.

As the final notes rang out, the night concluded with a collective bow from all participating choirs to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. This multicultural choral concert was a celebration of unity, understanding and the power of music to bring communities together.

For many in the audience, the evening left a lasting impression. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into this concert,” said attendee Federick Muiry, 

“It turned out to be such a special experience. Hearing all these different cultures come together through music was really moving. It reminded me how much we all have in common, no matter where we’re from,” said Muiry. 

Although the show has ended, it remains a reminder that music can transcend cultures and language barriers and allow people from different cultures to find harmony on the same stage. Through music, YRPA has made a significant impact by showing us how powerful music can be in a multicultural world.