The 36th Overseas Chinese Choirs Festival was held on July 4 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, bringing together 14 Chinese choirs and more than 520 performers in a celebration of music, friendship, and cultural heritage. Under the baton of conductor Monie Leung, the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto Choir had the honor of leading the singing of O Canada to open the concert. The choir then presented selections from Sounds of the Human World, including I Vow, Great Dharma to the West, and Light of Hope, sharing the Dharma through music and inspiring audiences with messages of compassion, peace, and hope.

Founded in 1990, the festival was established to promote choral arts and preserve Chinese musical heritage overseas by providing a platform for Chinese choirs across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond to learn from one another. Organized by the Mississauga Chinese Arts Organization (MCAO), the event continues to unite choirs through a shared love of music. Festival founder Mao Qun expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participating choirs, noting that the festival has become a meaningful musical home for many seniors. Approximately 75 percent of this year's performers were older adults, with the eldest participant being 93 years old.

Representing Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, Venerable Ru Sing thanked Mao Qun for creating a platform where choirs can connect through music and mutual learning. She explained that the Sounds of the Human World compositions performed by the Toronto Buddha's Light Choir embody the compassionate vows of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan, to spread the Dharma through music. She expressed the aspiration that these songs would bring peace, harmony, compassion, and inner stability, touching people's hearts through the universal language of music.

This year's program featured a rich and diverse repertoire, including Sounds of the Human World, American and Irish folk songs, beloved campus classics, and contemporary pop ballads, performed in Mandarin, English, and Cantonese. While most choirs were accompanied by piano, one ensemble delivered an impressive a cappella performance, showcasing the artistic diversity and excellence of the festival.

Choir member Libo Luo shared that singing Sounds of the Human World is not only a tribute to Venerable Master Hsing Yun, but also an opportunity to introduce more people to Buddhism and the warmth of Humanistic Buddhism in a joyful and approachable way. She added that participating in the festival also provided valuable opportunities to learn from other accomplished choirs and to build friendships through music.