Lin Yu’nan

linyunan1@126.com

“THREE, two, one, go,” under the guidance of Shin Moon-sub, a South Korean student serving as both conductor and composer of the International Choir of Shenzhen University (SZUIC), different harmonies filled the rehearsal room. Assessing purely based on the audio, it may be challenging to believe that a group of students from diverse corners of the world could deliver such an authentic rendition of a Chinese song.

As an international student at Shenzhen University (SZU), Shin took the initiative to establish the international choir on campus before extending its reach nationwide.

Shin’s journey with the choir began in 2010 when he arrived at SZU to study Chinese. Observing a lack of clubs tailored specifically for international students, he envisioned a platform where international students could share melodies and delve into Chinese culture together. SZUIC was born in 2016, attracting music enthusiasts from various backgrounds and creating a haven for cultural exchange through the universal language of music.

Unexpectedly, the choir’s performance videos took the internet by storm. In 2020, with the Ministry of Education’s encouragement, Shin took the initiative further by reaching out to more international students across China to establish a larger community known as the StudyinChina Cloud Choir. Comprising over 100 students from 45 countries and regions, the choir, under Shin’s baton, has staged more than 60 performances of Chinese songs.

Shin’s choir stands out with a notable number of his original compositions. “Having witnessed China’s rapid development during my stay here, I really want to record what I have seen and heard through music. Many foreigners know very little about China, so I hope to show them more of the real China through my songs,” Shin explained.

To date, Shin has produced six original Chinese songs, all of which are related to either China’s progress or SZU’s growth. For instance, “When the Ice Is Shining” conveys international students’ best wishes for the Beijing Winter Olympics, while “The Sail of the South China Sea” celebrates SZU’s 40th anniversary.

His recent release, “Road of Our Dreams,” focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative. Inspired by members hailing from countries involved in the initiative, the song serves as a tribute to its positive impact on their lives.

(Lin Jiazhao, Jia Luyi, and Lin Yuting contributed to the proofreading of the article.)