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One doesn't think of gospel tunes coming out of Taiwan, but, in fact, there is a whole gospel choir there, the only one of its kind. And this group, the Chung Yuan Christian University Choir, will begin its Northern California tour at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Aug. 14.
That night the roof at St. Jude's might just rise up with all the hallelujahs because there will be three choirs belting out songs for the church's Intercultural Vocal Concert. And proceeds from a freewill offering at the concert will benefit the Organization of Special Needs Families.
The three choirs performing at the church will assemble that night because of odd little connections with each other.
As it turns out, Lihuei Wei, one of the creators of the special needs organization for autistic children that meets regularly in the church, once attended Chung Yuan University and sang with the gospel choir.
The Luminaries, an all-male vocal ensemble of seven who are recent graduates of the Monta Vista High School Impressions, will join in the concert because one of them is working on his Eagle Scout project at the church. And, of course, St. Jude's Episcopal Adult Choir belongs to the church.
The group from Taiwan, made up of faculty and staff of Chung Yuan Christian University, formed in 1965 to spread gospel through sacred music. The group's members have been singing the gospel in all parts of Asia and Southeast Asia, in New Zealand and Australia and the United States. They perform in schools, churches and prisons and at commencements. Since 1983 they've added Chinese folk songs to their repertoire and sing traditional songs from various cultures in both Chinese and English.
The members of the choir include the university's president, deans, department heads, professors and staff. The university has no music department, and most members have no formal music training. Choir director Te-Jen Ko is a lecturer in the school's department of general education. He was the director of the Hsia-Men Street Baptist Church Choir and Hu Jiang High School Choir in Taipei and also directed the choir for the 150th anniversary of the Baptist churches' mission in China.
The concert takes place at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on the corner of Stelling and McClellan roads in Cupertino at 7 p.m. on Aug. 14.
Admission is free; however, a freewill offering will be taken up to support the Organization of Special Needs Families. A reception will follow in the parish hall and childcare will be provided.
For more information, contact Chihua Wei at 408.996.0858 or chihua@cisco.com or Michael Morris at 408.376.0593 or music@saintjudes.org.
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