Galloping Toward the East, Voices in Bloom
“Hearing the East 2026” Choral Concert Concludes Successfully

On the evening of April 4, 2026, Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church in downtown Toronto was aglow with lights and filled with melodious singing. Hearing the East 2026, a special choral concert meticulously presented by the NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir, was grandly staged here, offering an artistic feast rich in Eastern charm to an audience of over 300 attendees.

Galloping Forward: From “Four Years Old” to “A World of Possibilities”

This concert was conducted by Dr. Leo Li, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Xinsheng Philharmonic Choir. The opening piece, “The Four-Year-Old Bay Horse,” delivered not only a powerful and distinctly ethnic musical experience, but also conveyed a profound symbolic meaning for the choir’s artistic journey:

Growth and Strength:
A four-year-old horse stands at the peak of vitality and physical strength. Likewise, under the leadership of Artistic Director Leo Li, the Xinsheng Philharmonic Choir has, through years of dedication and development, grown into a vibrant and steadily advancing ensemble of notable maturity. The presentation of the fourth edition of Hearing the East at this moment marks a significant milestone—an artistic testament to the choir’s momentum and its pursuit of excellence.

Harmony with the Season:
This year coincides with the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar. The selection of this piece resonates beautifully with the spirit of the season, adding a distinctive cultural dimension to the concert.

Cultural Roots:
Performed in the original Mongolian language, the piece not only aligns with the concert’s central theme of “ethnic works,” but also reflects a deep respect for cultural authenticity and heritage.

Particularly noteworthy was that Artistic Director and Conductor Leo Li took on the role of tenor soloist in this piece, performing alongside Vocal Director Huang Yan. This marked Leo Li’s first vocal performance in a featured concert setting, offering the audience a refreshing and memorable experience.

Flowing Movements: Painting a Tapestry of Eastern Art

The concert was thoughtfully curated, moving from intimate emotions to grand narratives, as interwoven vocal lines painted vivid scenes of the East.

[First Half: A Confession of Mountains and Land]
The mixed choir performed ethnically rich works such as “Moni Mountain” and “Chile Song.” With its lyrical melody, “Moni Mountain” expressed a sacred longing for a spiritual homeland, while “Chile Song” evoked the vastness of the land and the grandeur of a people.

The choir then presented “Hanyang Gate Garden” in the Wuhan dialect, along with “Daylily Flower,” using delicate vocal expression to capture emotional resonance in contemporary life.

A Shanxi folk song, “Peach Blossoms Red, Apricot Blossoms White,” performed in the Shanxi dialect, portrayed the colors of spring and pure emotions through lively melodies and vivid imagery, showcasing the simplicity and vitality of folk music.

“Pearls and Jade,” a choral work personally authorized to the Xinsheng Philharmonic Choir by composer Professor Cao Guanyu, featured refined tonal colors and richly layered harmonies, expressing a sense of preciousness and purity while embodying the subtle elegance of Eastern aesthetics.

In a special segment, composer and singer-songwriter Zhang Kemin joined the choir’s male voices to present his original work “Jianbing.” Blending humor with heartfelt expression, the piece captured the vibrant flavor of Beijing street life, bringing a lively and delightful artistic surprise to the audience.

[Second Half: A Symphony of Poetry and Passion]

The second half opened with a women’s chorus. Pieces such as “The Call of Shangri-La,” “Jin Se,” and “Song of the Yue People” showcased the gentle, ethereal qualities of the female voice in Eastern musical expression. “The Call of Shangri-La,” inspired by the image of an ideal paradise, unfolded a yearning for a spiritual homeland amid vastness and serenity. “Jin Se” conveyed a subtle and profound reflection on memories and life, rich in poetic depth and lingering resonance. “Song of the Yue People” expressed restrained yet deeply felt emotions, revealing the understated beauty of Eastern aesthetics within a tranquil atmosphere.

The Fujian folk song “Tea Picking” brought a lively rhythm and vivid imagery, celebrating the joy of labor and daily life with a sense of freshness and vitality. The Italian folk song “Beautiful Village” added a cheerful contrast, depicting the harmony and charm of rural life.

In the mixed choir suite that followed, the ensemble performed the Russian folk song “The Hawthorn Tree” in Russian, along with the Xinjiang Uyghur folk song “Lift Your Veil,” stirring a wave of nostalgia throughout the audience.

As Artistic Director Leo Li noted in his concert talk, the program spanned regions across China, using choral music to take the audience on a journey through the country’s diverse landscapes. A deep love for the homeland ultimately converged in the song “My Motherland.”

When the melody of “My Motherland” arose, its powerful harmonies brought the concert atmosphere to its peak.

The concert concluded with “That Day, on an Impulse, I Joined the Choir,” composed by Taiwanese composer Huang Junda. With sincere and humorous narration, the piece portrayed the choir members’ unwavering devotion to choral art.

Amid laughter and warmth, the entire performance was underscored by a flowing current of deep nostalgia and affection—an enduring longing for a distant homeland, carried through every note by the NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir.

A Signature of Identity: Building Bridges in a Multicultural Landscape

One audience member reflected after the concert: “This performance allowed me to rediscover the power of Eastern choral music—it is not merely a reunion of melodies, but a homecoming of the soul.”

Since its inception in 2023, Hearing the East has remained rooted in Canada’s multicultural context. From offering emotional healing in the post-pandemic era, to exploring a multilingual world, to fostering cross-temporal dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations, it has gradually grown into a cultural hallmark of the Greater Toronto Area—one that embodies both artistic excellence and human warmth.

Amid the enthusiastic atmosphere of the encore “Longing” and the grand finale chorus “Unforgettable Tonight,” Hearing the East 2026 came to a successful close. Guests and performers gathered for a group photo, capturing this radiant moment of Eastern voices in full bloom.

Where Xinsheng’s voices rise, the East arrives.

Dear friends,
Until we meet again at the next concert!
On this musical journey, we are always together.