The One Voice Children's Choir, renowned for their angelic voices and heartwarming performances, graced the Shanghai Grand Theatre on Jan 4, marking a triumphant start to the new year.
The performance was part of their 2025 New Year China Tour, a musical journey that began in Shenzhen on Dec 29 and captivated audiences in Guangzhou before arriving in Shanghai.
The Shanghai concert was notable, as it followed the choir's successful collaboration with the city last year during the "Shanghai Let's Meet for Melody" campaign. Their rendition of Golden Hour, showcasing Shanghai's stunning skyline, garnered over a million views on YouTube within days of its release, captivating global audiences and reflecting the choir's connection to the city.
"We've missed China for the whole year since we left," shared Masa Fukuda, the choir's founder and director. "We hoped we could make it back here one day, and our dream came true. We're so happy." Fukuda, a Japanese-American musical prodigy, established the choir in 2005, inspired by his experience working with young singers during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
The Shanghai performance was a testament to the choir's mission to inspire the world through the power of children's voices. "I really felt connected to every one of the audience members," Fukuda remarked after the concert. "Even though I don't know them or their stories, I felt like our message was getting across to them, and they're really feeling the message."
The choir's repertoire included a diverse range of songs, each carrying a message of hope, love, and unity. From the uplifting anthem I Lived to the poignant ballad You Raise Me Up, each performance resonated deeply with the audience.
They even incorporated popular Chinese songs like As You Wish and Tomorrow Will Be Better, showcasing their cultural sensitivity and dedication to connecting with their Chinese fans.
"The only other Chinese song is As You Wish," said Fukuda. "It's a very heartfelt song. We don't understand every single word, but we can feel those words."
Beyond the grand stage, the choir's visit to Shanghai extended to a number of meaningful cultural exchanges. They toured the city's iconic landmarks, including the Yuyuan Garden and the awe-inspiring Shanghai Tower, the latter leaving a particular impression on 11-year-old choir member Benny Martinez. "I thought that the Shanghai Tower was super cool since it was so tall," he said.
Benny, who has been with the choir for five years, shared his excitement about performing in China. "It was super amazing to meet all of the different people in the different cities," he said. "And it was super fun."
Cosette Stevenson, a 17-year-old member, also cherished the opportunity to connect with Chinese youth. During a visit to the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School, she befriended a student named Elaine who gave the choir a tour. "She was really cool," Cosette shared. "And later when we sang our songs, she was one of the kids who came up and sang with us. She stood right next to me. And that was really cool."
For the parents accompanying their children on the tour, the experience was equally enriching. Whitney Martinez, Benny's mother, expressed her pride and gratitude for the opportunity.
"I hope that Benny learns that the world is a lot smaller than we think," she said. "Kids 11 years old, whether they're in the United States or in China, are all doing the same things. They're waking up, they're going to school, they're trying to learn, they're playing with their friends. We're really just not that much different from each other."
