To celebrate the grand opening of the 6th European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Aarhus 2025, the 2025 WCC Forum (Asia-Pacific & China) and the “Greetings to Aarhus” Special Talk Show were organized by INTERKULTUR China with the support of INTERKULTUR and the World Choir Council.

This special show was broadcast live on June 6 and featured guest speakers including Mr. Fred Sjöberg (Sweden), Senior Artistic Director of INTERKULTUR and the World Choir Games, and Vice President of the World Choir Council; Dr. Michael Barrett (South Africa), Vice President of the World Choir Council; and five WCC representatives: Prof. Wu Lingfen (China), Mr. Meng Dapeng (China), Mr. Chen Guanghui (China), Dr. Johnny Ku (Chinese Taipei), and Prof. Yang Li (China). Also joining were Prof. Su Yanhui (China), Artistic Director and Conductor of the Guangzhou Grand Theatre Children’s Choir, and the WCG Champion Choir, RUSingers.

Chaired by Ms. Li Qixuan, Project Manager of Hello Council, the discussion revisited unforgettable moments from past World Choir Games, explored emerging trends in the choral world in China and globally, and offered insights for fans of the "World Choir Events." Over 5,000 viewers joined the live broadcast, and more than 10,000 have watched the replay.

With the choral industry growing both in China and worldwide, more choirs are focusing on management, operations, and even commercial aspects. Mr. Fred Sjöberg remarked: “Changes in how choir leaders think have increased the economic value of choral music, generating greater social benefits and providing sustainable momentum for the development of the industry.” These changes bring both new opportunities and challenges.

In recent years, the introduction of the “Vocal Ensemble” category has created a fairer and more suitable competitive platform for smaller choirs like RUSingers. Dr. Johnny Ku noted: “Large choirs must first address unity within voice parts, while smaller choirs need to focus on integration between them. Regardless of size, three key elements are essential: accurate intonation and rhythm, sound harmony, and musical expression. Different ensemble sizes call for different ways to highlight their strengths.”

During the scenic highlights section, Prof. Su Yanhui introduced the Chengdu (International) Children’s Chorus Week 2025 and raised a key question to the expert panel: Should large-scale choirs pursue an elite selection model or a broad-based popular group model? The panel reached a consensus: the guiding principle of “Participation is the highest honor” should remain at the forefront. The diversity and inclusiveness of the "World Choir Events"—reflected in competition levels and category structures—should allow more singers to take part across tiers, reinforcing the educational value of choral art.

While the times are changing and bringing new possibilities for the global choral scene, the spirit of the “Choir Olympics” remains constant. As Dr. Michael Barrett, Artistic Director of the African Asia Pacific Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations Mauritius 2025, stated: “The content and style of choral singing continue to evolve. Choirs now appear in many sizes and forms—but the joy of the 'World Choir Movement' lies in the fact that everyone is welcome to participate!”

See you in Aarhus! Singing together brings nations together!