NYU Steinhardt Hosts Guangdong Experimental High School Choir for Concert and Choral Masterclass

The event included performances by the acclaimed choir from China, NYU Steinhardt Vocal Performance students, and more.

On October 1, NYU Steinhardt and the Young People's Chorus (YPC) of New York City hosted China’s award-winning Guangdong Experimental High School Choir, led by conductor Xie Mingjing, for a concert, choral masterclass, and discussion about the power of music to foster cross-cultural connection.

YPC, led by Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez (BS ’88), welcomed 45 singers from the acclaimed Chinese choir, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Núñez and Mingjing first met at the World Choral Symposium in Japan in 2005; more than 20 years later, the partnership has evolved into an ongoing China-U.S. youth choir exchange.

“Seeing these young singers come together at NYU was a powerful reminder of what can happen when we create space for genuine connection,” said Núñez. “The choristers weren’t just sharing music with one another; they got to know each other personally and built relationships that can last a lifetime. That kind of human connection is where real understanding begins.”

An Afternoon Celebrating Music, Pedagogy, and Friendship

During the event, an audience of alumni and other community members were treated to performances by Guangdong Experimental High School Choir, as well as by students who were cast members in NYU Steinhardt’s Vocal Performance program’s recent production of the musical She Loves Me.

Ana Flavia Zuim, music associate professor of vocal performance at NYU Steinhardt, presented a demonstration and a short lecture on vocal cord tones, which included opportunities for participation and questions from the audience.

“The Guangdong Choir shared far more than beautiful sounds,” says Zuim. “Through music, they shared something of their culture that could be understood beyond words. I believe that each person’s sound, story, and lived experience creates a ripple, and when we make and experience music together, those ripples meet and resonate with one another in real time. We may never know how far they will reach, just as we may never fully know the impact we have on others, or the impact they have on us, especially when we meet one another for the first time. That, to me, is one of the great joys of music.”