ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — The BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir presented its final performance in a friendly, musical exchange with students from Nankai University in Tianjin, China, the evening of May 23, and its final exchange with other students from Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC) in the same city before departing today for the capital of Mongolia.
Outstanding music in an acoustically lively hall and equally remarkable rapport among all of the students from both schools marked the final concert at Nankai University. Likewise, students from CAUC — which sent its basketball team to play in BYU-Hawaii's 2006 Asian-Pacific basketball tournament — eagerly awaited the arrival of the BYU-Hawaii contingent.
The spirit felt at these final two appearances in vast country of 1.2 billion people was outstanding, and in many ways they were a fitting climax to the China portion of the tour from May 7-24. The remaining days of the tour will be spent in Mongolia.
"I've been on two other performance tours, and to me this has been the most successful," said Napua Baker, Vice President of University Advancement. "I feel one of the reasons for that is we have a group of choir members who have come prepared not just in music, but in spirit for this tour. They have the spirit of aloha, which of course if part of the tour theme — Harmony with Aloha; but it's not just a theme. It's truly in them: In their actions, behavior and how they respond to the people."
"They've made new friends who see a beacon of light radiate from each one of them. To see how they respond to the Chinese students and make new friends and emulate the spirit of aloha, well, I can't compliment them more. The process of doing so comes out in the quality of the music, the message they're conveying and the love they share with each audience. They made so many new friends at Nankai University, and there was so much unity."
Duane Roberts, BYU-Hawaii Director of Communications & Public Relations said the impression that comes first to mind for him is that the tour has been a "job well done, including the preparation by the choir members, logistics team, technical crew and the coordination with our Chinese hosts. We have been well treated, respected and loved beyond measure. We anticipated that kind of support. We came to China in celebration of many, many years of friendship with China, and some very specific people who are here who have helped accomplish this tour."
"From an institutional point of view, we've achieved every objective we had hoped for and more. We've also opened the doors to some new dialog and opportunities," Roberts continued. "For example, we've invited the choir director from Nankai University to come to BYU-Hawaii in November to spend a few weeks with us, hopefully working on some preparations for bringing her wonderful choir Laie and the rest of Hawaii at some time in the future."
"From a personal point of view, I have to say that this particular trip has meant a lot because of the excellence of the members of this choir, their preparation and dedication — not only musically, but in terms of their spirits and their attitudes. They have truly been ambassadors on this trip. No matter what logistical circumstances we have run into, they have smiled and pitched in and just made it all work. To me, that has been a great blessing."
Dr. Yi-Fen Beus, chair of the International Cultural Studies Department and a cultural advisor on the tour, said she was "also really impressed with how willing our students have been to try everything. For a lot of them, this was their first overseas experience, but they were willing to go for it. It's been a learning, spiritual journey for all of us, and it's been very rewarding."
Asked for a favorite memory, Roberts said the entire choir singing Aloha 'Oe to the staff of the Diaoyutai Hotel where they stayed in Beijing "just moved me to tears, because we have such an affinity with that particular organization. To have the chefs and the staff come into the dining room was very moving, and I truly felt that there was great people-to-people communication. It's really hard not to communicate when you have aloha and the spirit of the gospel in your heart. The whole feeling of our farewell with the Diaoyutai staff epitomized the spirit of the tour."
His wife, Susan Roberts, a tour chaperone and volunteer English instructor on campus, said she liked "watching how the students help each other when they're not on camera. They genuinely love each other. It's a wonderful thing for me to see them work together so well. They always have their 'game faces' on."
On behalf of the students, Kamaile Blake, a senior exercise sports science major originally from Evanston, Wyoming, said she felt like "we were coming here to make an impression on the Chinese, but I think they've actually made a bigger impression on me. I was expecting a much more conservative, less affectionate people, but it was quite the opposite. Everybody's been really loving and hospitable to us, and welcomed us with open arms. They're very kind and considerate, and tried to cater to us the best that they can."
"I really appreciate the way they tried to serve us, especially the students from the other universities, through music," Blake said.
"Without a doubt, I think that we were able to reach lives, even if it was just one or two. Some of that showed when we went to John Ling's factory to see the workers. They sang for us as we were leaving. We couldn't help but get teary eyed and feel that we accomplished something in our mission. We did reach somebody."
— Photos by Mike Foley: after the concert at Nankai University in Tianjin, China.
