With beautiful voices from the mountains and forests, Hsinchu County’s Hngyang Na Atayal choir from won two gold medals in the Mixed Chamber Choirs and in the Folklore and Indigenous Music with Accompaniment categories at the 13th World Choir Games held in New Zealand in July. President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim sent their congratulations right away via the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland. July 30, County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke also presented awards to recognize this remarkable achievement in the County Government Supervisors’ Reports meeting. Magistrate Yang stated that, for members of Hngyang Na Atayal choir who have to balance their daily work and choir training, to win gold through their great strength and perseverance at the world's largest choir competition is no mean task! They are truly the glory of Hsinchu County, and the glory of Taiwan!
The 2024 World Choir Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 10 to 20. Director-General of Hsinchu County Government's Administration of Indigenous People Affairs Losing Asan (Yun Tien-pao) and Hsinchu County Council Member Liu Chien-min accompanied the Hngyang Na Atayal group as they travelled to New Zealand to participate in the games. This year's event attracted more than 250 teams and 11,000 singers from 40 countries around the world. Competition was fierce.
Hngyang Na Atayal Choirmaster and Taoshan Elementary School Principal Yayut Isaw (Su Mai-chuan) stated, the team participated in the Folklore and Indigenous Music with Accompaniment category with the song “Spirit of Tayal”. The performance included traditional Atayal musical instruments such as bamboo xylophone, wood xylophone, wooden drum, pgagu (‘headhunting flute’), and mouth harp were used to express merry, festive, and sometimes even eerie moods during the song. The music ended with a bright, joyful melody and rhythm, bringing the audience to experience a wonderful Atayal journey.
Kao Wen-liang, leader of Hngyang Na Atayal, said that the Mixed Chamber Choirs category performance was conducted by teacher Hsu Wei-yuan. In this category, the group performed four splendid songs in completely different styles: “Hunter's Chase” in the Bunun language; “Ghost Lake Love" in the Rukai language; “Ave Maria” by Taiwanese composer Lin Ming-chieh, and “Cikala Le Pong Pong” in Indonesian. Their superb performance received thunderous applause from the audience, and unanimous praise from the judges.
Hsinchu County Education Bureau Director Yang Chun-tzu stated that Hsinchu County’s Pqwasan na Taoshan (Taoshan Elementary School Choir) also won a gold medal in the Children’s Choirs category in this year’s Games. In addition, Pqwasal Biru Naro (Jinping Elementary School) Choir from Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County also won gold medals in the age-unrestricted E2 Folklore category and 12-and-under art category at the 2024 World Youth & Children Choir Festival, held in Hong Kong in July. The beautiful voices of Hsinchu County’s Indigenous choirs are being carried around the globe. They are truly the glory of Hsinchu County, and the glory of Taiwan!