At the 13th World Choir Games held in New Zealand, the Hsinchu County Tayal Choir captivated the audience with their beautiful mountain melodies, winning two gold medals in the "Open Mixed Chamber Choir" and "Accompanied Folk Songs" categories. President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim sent congratulatory messages through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland, and Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko awarded and honored the choir at the county's executive meeting on July 30th. Magistrate Yang praised the choir members for their dedication, balancing work and rehearsals, and triumphing in the largest international choir competition, a proud achievement for both Hsinchu County and Taiwan.
The 2024 World Choir Games were held from July 10th to 20th in Auckland, New Zealand. The Hsinchu County Indigenous Affairs Director, Yun Tian-bao, and Councilor Liu Jian-min led the Tayal Choir to compete in this fierce competition, which attracted more than 250 teams and 11,000 singers from 40 countries worldwide.
The choir's conductor, Su Mei-Juan, Principal of Taoshan Elementary School, explained that they performed "Spirit of Tayal" in the "Accompanied Folk Songs" category, incorporating traditional Tayal instruments such as the bamboo tube harp, xylophone, wooden drum, hunter's flute, and mouth harp. The performance, alternating between joyous celebration and eerie solemnity, concluded in a festive atmosphere, taking the audience on a mystical Tayal journey.
Choir leader Kao Wen-Liang added that in the Mixed Chamber Choir category, under the direction of teacher Hsu Wei-yuan, the choir performed four diverse and stunning pieces: "The Hunter's Chase" in Bunun, "The Love of Ghost Lake" in Rukai, "Ave Maria" composed by Lin Ming-chieh, and the Indonesian song "Cikala le Pongpong." The performance was met with thunderous applause and unanimous praise from the judges. These achievements not only showcased the choir's talent but also highlighted the charm of Taiwan's indigenous music, making Taiwan's voice heard worldwide.
The Thai Nha Choir from Hsinchu County won two gold medals in the categories of "Open Mixed Chamber Choir" and "Folk Song with Accompaniment." (Photo: Hsinchu County Government)
Hsinchu County Education Director, Yang Jun-ci, noted that the Taoshan Elementary School Choir also won a gold medal in the "Children's Choir" category at the 13th World Choir Games in New Zealand. Additionally, the Jinping Elementary School Choir from Jianshi Township won gold in both the E2 Folk Songs category and the Under-12 Arts category at the 2024 World Youth Choir Festival held in Hong Kong in July. The beautiful voices of the county’s indigenous choirs continue to be recognized on the international stage, representing the pride of Hsinchu County and Taiwan.
