On July 5, the Buddha’s Light Choir of Toronto touched hearts with its uplifting performance at the 35th Overseas Chinese Choirs Festival, held at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. The highly anticipated cultural event brought together over 500 performers from 14 Chinese community choirs and attracted an audience of nearly1,000 music lovers.

Among the standout performers, the Buddha’s Light Choir presented three inspiring selections from Sounds of the Human World: The Wondrous Journey Through Nature, Harmony, and Perfect Ease. Their moving performance reflected the choir’s mission to share beauty, kindness, and joy through music.

Organized by the Sino-Canada Cultural and Educational Exchange Foundation and co-hosted by the Mississauga Chinese Choir, the festival showcased a diverse array of musical genres—from classical and contemporary pieces to musical theatre and folk songs—performed in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Italian. Participants ranged from teenagers to seniors, including a remarkable 97-year-old, all united by their passion for music and cultural expression.

Mr. Jun Mao, founder of the Overseas Chinese Choirs Festival, expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participating choirs for their continued support and contributions over the years. A total of 42 musical pieces were performed, with each group bringing unique creativity through expressive costumes, props, and choreography. Festival highlights included a traditional Sichuan “face-changing” act and a nostalgic Shanghai-themed performance by the Phoenix Chorale.

Venerable Ru Sing, Monastic Advisor of the Buddha’s Light Choir Toronto, delivered a special address during the event. She emphasized the choir’s role in promoting the vision of Fo Guang Shan’s founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who advocated for spreading the Dharma through culture and the arts. Venerable Ru Sing encouraged the audience to embrace Sounds of the Human World as a source of inner strength and hope in challenging times.

This year, the Buddha’s Light Choir welcomed 30 new members, who trained intensively under the direction of conductor Ms. Monie Leung for more than a year. Leung also led the audience in singing O Canada at the opening of the festival. Choir leader Miranda Chu praised Leung’s dedicated instruction, noting that members not only refined their vocal and harmony skills, but also engaged in physical training to enhance breath control and stage presence.

The Buddha’s Light Choir’s radiant energy, musical precision, and uplifting message received enthusiastic applause and admiration,reaffirming their role as a beacon of joy, unity, and compassion in the choral community.

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