URUMQI, Xinjiang, China — Over 5,000 people filled the new multipurpose Xinjiang University Gymnasium on May 10 to hear the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir give its first public performance in this far-western Chinese city.
URUMQI, Xinjiang, China — Following a 26-hour transit that started early morning May 7 on campus, the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir group arrived in the wee hours of a very cold, rainy May 9 in this far-western China city to begin a three-week tour that will include performances here, in Xi'an, Beijing, Tianjin and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
“The first thing most people want to know is, where in the world is Rotuma?“ explained Dr. Hiagi M Wesley, the BYU-Hawaii symposium organizer. “That’s why we titled this event, “Rotuma in the Pacific,” he continued, “at least they know Rotuma is in the Pacific region of the world.” Dr. Wesley, a native Rotuman, said Rotuma is an island located about 500 miles from Fiji.
Professor Ellen Bunker told the BYU-Hawaii devotional audience that her life demonstrates the truth of President Ezra Taft Benson’s admonition that “God can make a lot more out of our lives than we can.”
The May 1 issue of Consumers Digest Magazine named BYU-Hawaii as the number-one "top value" among private colleges and universities in the U.S. BYUH previously received the same designation in 2004.
At its second annual best practices and awards luncheon on April 30, the BYU-Hawaii assessment program recognized six academic and support departments, and presented a Mahalo Nui Award to one individual, who have identified target objectives, measured outcomes and made follow-up improvements.
Mike Foley | University Advancement | May 2007
During three weeks in May 2007 the 64-voice Brigham Young University Hawaii Concert Choir will perform in Urumqi, Xian, Tianjin and Beijing, People’s Republic of China. (choir performance schedule )
In Beijing, under the direction of BYU-Hawaii music director Professor Michael Belnap — who has studied in Italy with world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti, the choir will appear in the Forbidden City Concert Hall, participate in the “Meet in Beijing” Music Festival, and sing at the Great Wall of China.
The BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir has previously performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Metropolitan Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, and the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea.
Wednesday, 2 May 2007, BYU-Hawaii will premiere the movie, "Not One Less," featuring Wei, Minzhi , a current student. The premiere is a pre-tour event in connection with the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir, which leaves for China and Mongolia 7 May. The tour celebrates 25 years of friendships with the People's Republic of China and Mongolia.
Rosemarie Howard | University Advancement | 24 April 2007
On a Saturday in 1998, a car pulled into the village of Shuiquan in the Heiben province of the People’s Republic of China. There was no school on Saturday, so 13 year-old Wei, Minzhi and her twin sister, Wei, Congzhi, were playing in the street with their friends.
The youngsters were curious to know what the people who got out of the car were doing. They soon found out. Although her twin was too nervous to sing, Minzhi sang and danced for the man behind the camera. When asked if she would like to be an actress in a movie, Minzhi said, “Yes,” and wrote her name on the women’s hand so it would not be forgotten.
