Tunghai University Christian Church (東海大學路思義教堂) Orchestra and Choir held a concert at Guogou Elementary School Auditorium on May 5, from 4:00 pm to 5:20 pm. This is their first countryside outreach event and the purpose is to celebrate Mother’s day with the community. The Biblical theme is Psalm 139 verse 13-14:
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
The Orchestra and Choir came around 2:30 pm in two buses and left shortly after the concert, around 6:00 pm. The weather is cloudy, mild temperature and humid. This is the first time ever for Guogou villagers to see such a large size classical music group.
The program consists of music from Baroque to Classical to Contemporary periods.
- Wondrous Love
- What Star is This
- Ave Maria
- Tell it on the Mountain
- All Heaven Declares
- All the Earth Rejoices
- A Living Sacrifice
- Emmanuel
- The Path of Hope
- Holy is He (David T. Clydesdale)
There were two testimonials by the choir members and a short sermon by Church Pastor Lee. The concert was conducted by Dr. Kuo (郭宗愷).
The choir is a size of 60 but only 20 came to this concert because the small size of the concert stage. The choir stage risers were imported from Japan by the Guogou community choir, conducted by Mr. Gene Y.C. Shieh. Microphone was used for the soloists due to the sound-effect of the concert hall. Notice that they used keyboards to enhance the overall sound effects. The orchestral arrangements are excellent and well balanced with the choir (on microphone, I believe).
After the concert, Ruth introduced me to conductor Kuo and we talked briefly. I had talked with Professor Woo for a while. She was the one standing behind the microphone on the photo’s right side. She was the announcer for the concert and the program. She is a professor in social works and coordinated the outreach activity with the junior pastor. The orchestra/choir members are all from the church and many are majored in music, some with M.S., Ph.D. degree.
Five Churches around Guogou area jointly prepared and served this concert event. The out-reach effort by Tunghai University Christian Church was well received by the community and many raised their hands in the Pastor’s calling.
