Upper School Mandarin students and their teacher Xinghong Gu attended the 2018 Cincinnati Youth Chinese Music and Art Festival at the Cincinnati Art Museum. This youth festival promotes the diverse culture of China through music and cultural experiences. It was an excellent opportunity for our students to improve their Mandarin by interacting with the Chinese community.

During the festivities, students in attendance competed in a talent showcase, displaying their cultural knowledge and language skills. Four groups of MVS students participated in the choir/vocal competition.

Curtis Smith, Liam Burns, and Yash Gupta, members of the MVS a cappella group Ars Nova, performed an a cappella piece, and sophomore Lisa Bales sang a solo song. Junior vocalist Victoria Osborne placed second in the competition with her solo song titled “Courage,” and seniors Jonathan Albrecht, vocalist, and Mason Chambal, on guitar, took first place with their rendition of “Chengdu.”

After the competition, the students had the opportunity to join the master classes where they communicated in Mandarin with Chinese musicians and learned about traditional Chinese music culture. Mason Chambal even got to play the pipa, a traditional, stringed Chinese instrument.

It was an impressive display of talent and the students’ comprehension of the Mandarin language.