The Formosa Singers will take the audience on an innovative and energetic journey of voices through the beauty of choral music. There will be songs that echo with childhood memories and Hakka songs that are full of joy. These songs have been affectionately arranged, and interpreted by the Formosa Singers to become beauteous choral pieces. The audience will also fully experience the diverse musical natures of the newly arranged Taiwanese folk songs.
The Formosa Singers strive to provide pluralistic musical traditions to its audiences. We continuously rearrange Taiwanese folksongs to reinvigorate the spirits within them. We hope that through our concerts, audience will be able to sense the uniqueness and beauty of Taiwanese songs. The Concerts are crisscrossed with resonating songs of different styles, creating a fanciful balance, in the hope of sparked interests in Taiwanese songs.
About Formosa Singers
Founded in 1994, Formosa Singers has been the most exuberantly animated choir in Taiwan. Art Director and Conductor Julian Ching-Chun Su, after receiving his Master’s degree in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College, USA, returned to Taiwan and founded the choir, setting out to promote choral music of pristine quality and to refine the art of choir in Taiwan. The recognition of nearly nineteen years of endeavor has been extended from Taiwan to abroad.
Formosa Singers’ dedication in enriching the spirit of Taiwan folksong has given over a century’s Taiwan music, traditional and modern alike, new sound and new life. Over a dozen of CD albums, recognized by the nomination and awards for Golden Melody Award held by Government Information Office, and over a hundred published scores of mixed-voices and equal voices choir, are the abundant fruits of Formosa Singers’ steady and sure endeavor.
As one of the best choir groups in Taiwan, Formosa Singers has been invited to perform at numerous art festivals worldwide and received recognition. The countries visited include the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. Formosa Singers was invited to perform at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York and awarded Outstanding Art’s Award by Taiwan Care Incorporated of the US. It entered the 21st Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest in August 2005 and won the golden medal of mixed chorus, golden medal of male chorus, and silver medal of female chorus, and was also invited to the 7th World Symposium on Coral Music. In August 2007, it was invited to perform at Karuizawa Choral Festival in Japan, and demonstrate at the conductor master class. In October 2008, Formosa Singers was invited to enter the 40th TOLOSA Choral Contest in Spain, one of the European Grand Prix, which will be a good opportunity for the world to hear quality Taiwan voice.
Exploring diverse music styles has been Formosa Singers’ momentum for growth. Since 1997, renowned international musicians including Leonard Bernstein’s highly esteemed choir maestro Joseph Flummerfelt, Martin Behrmann from Germany, Stephen Leek from Australia, Gary Graden from Sweden, Martin Tel from the US, and Ko Matsushita and Hanaoka Yoshihiro from Japan, have been invited to joint performances. Apart from the joint performances, Ko Matsushita, Stephen Leek and Pilipino composer Francisco F. Feliciano have also adapted several Taiwanese folksongs, molded so as to suit Formosa Singers perfectly.
As the advocate of Taiwan choral music, Formosa Sings presents Taiwanese folksongs in a mixture of classical and modern styles, emphasizing in-depth interpretation and diversity with the selection of music. Their love for the land inspires them to sing their unique Taiwanese tunes, and to demonstrate to the world their pride for their culture.