Three officials from the State Administration for Religious Affairs in Beijing recently came to BYU-Hawaii, toured the Polynesian Cultural Center and previewed three songs the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir will sing during their tour of China and Mongolia in May 2007.
The officials — Yanming Wang, Division Chief of the Administration's Fourth Department; Dr. Wei Qi, Deputy Director of Division I; and Wang Sheng Cai — had earlier visited Utah where they met the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a dinner hosted by Elder Donald L. Staheli, the recently released member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy who oversees China relations for the Church and is a new member of the PCC Board of Directors. They also attended General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, and participated in the Law and Religion Conference at BYU in Provo.
New BYU-Hawaii freshman Wei Lila Minzhi, a well-known movie actress in the People's Republic of China, accompanied the three officials during their Laie visit.
In introducing the delegation to the Concert Choir, BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway remarked, "These people are going to be very interested in our performing in China. They know all about you. We are celebrating 25 years of friendship with China." He added the division chief requested and has been "promised a front row seat for the concert in the Forbidden City" (in Beijing).
"I've explained to them that you are the best choice of all the BYUs," he continued, drawing a laugh from the choir members. "You sing, blend and bring everyone together as one, which is a very important idea in China."
Concert Choir Director Dr. Michael Belnap said the group is "tremendously looking forward to going to China," in preface to singing the three songs from their a cappella repertoire — the last a Dr. Belnap arrangement that’s "our gift to the people of China and Mongolia. It's a song about holding hands and peace in our world."
In response to the beautiful music, Madame Wang thanked the choir: "There's a saying in Chinese," she said through BYU-Hawaii's Dr. Peter Chan, who acted as interpreter, "to be the first audience is a great joy. My friends and I are the first audience. I'm so grateful for the wonderful performance."
"I don’t have any artistic skills, otherwise I would love to join you," she added. "I hope in the future your lives will be as beautiful as your singing." Following her remarks, the choir sang Aloha 'Oe.
From May 7-30 next year the 63 members of the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir, accompanied by President Shumway, other university and Church representatives as well as special guests and a support crew will travel to performances in Urumqi, Xian, Beijing and Tianjian, China; and Ulan Baatar, Mongolia.