Folk music is the visceral heartbeat of identity, yet stunning parallels exist between East Asian and Western traditions. This session explores universal foundations in nature, love, and community as a gateway to authentic performance. A panel of conductor-scholars traces their “journey of discovery,” detailing the challenges and triumphs of introducing Mongolian, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan, and Uyghur traditions to North American ensembles. Attendees will gain: curated repertoire with a vetted list of impactful, accessible octavos for high school/collegiate choirs; practical strategies for lyric diction, stylistic vocal techniques, and historical context; and “behind-the-scenes” score study, rehearsal plans, and audience reception data. Participants will leave with the pedagogical wisdom to transform unfamiliar notes into a shared, impactful human experience.
Resonant Journeys: Mastery and Performance of East Asian Folk Choralism
Pingyi Song
Pingyi Song serves as associate director of choral activities at Stetson University, Florida. As a conductor and clinician, Dr. Song has dedicated her career to promoting and premiering compositions by living composers worldwide, especially compositions from BIPOC, underrepresented, and female composers. She was invited to present her most recent research studies, "Gender Issues and Introduction to Choral Literature by Eastern Asian Female Composers" and "A New Approach to Mandarin Chinese Lyric Diction in Choral Music," at national and international conferences such as the Fourth International Symposium on Research in Choral Singing (2024), ACDA National (2023), NCCO (2023), and the Asian Classical Music Initiative (2023). Song also serves NCCO as a national board member.
Yuhua Li
Yuhua Li is pursuing a DMA in choral conducting at Louisiana State University. She holds an MM and post-baccalaureate certificate in choral conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BM from Central China Normal University. Li has conducted the LSU Chamber Singers and The Two Sisters and served as assistant conductor for Le nozze di Figaro at Music On Site, Inc. Her choral performance engagements include NCCO, ACDA, and LMEA, with appearances across the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
Mengda Jiang
Mengda Jiang is a passionate conductor and educator with experience leading children's to adult choirs in China, Europe, and the United States. After completing her DMA at the University of Arizona, she now directs The Good Shepherd UCC Choir and the Tucson Sino Choir. Dr. Jiang has performed in the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing Concert Hall, Qingdao Opera House, and Gulangyu Concert Hall. She is dedicated to inclusive teaching, intercultural collaboration, and inspiring diverse singers through meaningful choral experiences.
