Tianjin Dolphin Hearing Disabled Children’s Choir, China © TDHDCC

Hearing impairment can’t keep these children away from choral singing

Tianjin Dolphin Hearing Disabled Children’s Choir competes in Wernigerode

Johannes Brahms Int. Choir Festival & Competition

There are 10 and more little singers in China whose hearing impairment can’t keep them away from singing in a choir – and international success proves them right. The Tianjin Dolphin Hearing Disabled Children’s Choir from Northern China is the only choir in the world composed of hearing impaired children. In July 2017 they will come to Wernigerode in Germany and compete in the 10th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival & Competition.

All the children use a cochlea implant, which make a full choral experience possible. None of them had received any singing training before they joined the choir. After the choir was founded in 2014 by Miss Ling Xiao (who is still the present head of the choir) the children received regular training once a week, and so far they have given performances of high media attention in various activities, such as “Dream Star Patterned” TV show on CCTV and the 2015 New Year Concert of Tianjin Philharmonic Choir, and many public activities as well.

In July 2016, the choir took part in the 9th World Choir Games in Sochi, Russia and won a Silver Diploma of the Category of Scenic Folklore in The Open Competition. They performed a Chinese Folklore Chorus “Carp Rebirth”, which had a special meaning for the singers: It said that the hearing disabled children can overcome the disabilities and change their fate by themselves.

They keep on spreading this great message abroad in 2017. Visitors and participants of the Int. Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition 2017 in Wernigerode will have the chance to see them live performing on stage when they compete in the Folklore category again or appear in one of the Friendship Concerts.

The 10th jubilee edition of the Int. Johannes Brahms Choir Festival & Competition 2017 in Wernigerode will happen from July 5-9 this year. Registration is still possible until February 13. Detailed information can be found on the official event website.

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