By Constanze Grininger, Graz/Austria

Looking back on this particular choir meeting on the last day, I can say that there was no job greater than mine: Meeting the choirs directly at the “front”, attending and supporting them at rehearsals and competitions.

A special experience was the meeting with the choir “Singakademie Graz” from Austria, which competed in the competition at “my” venue. It was a big surprise when I spoke to them in German and it turned into a big hullabaloo when I told the youth that I’m from Graz, too. So shortly before their performance began we’ve had not much time to speak to each other, nervousness and excitement had been too big. After the performance when the group was waiting for entering the big hall, we had the chance to talk. The young people were thrilled with the “adventure China”. Indeed, the distinct care of the Chinese volunteers and choir attendants provides a particular feeling, but we agreed that cultural differences between China and Austria are great and that we can definitely understand this.

It was a great feeling for me to spend the whole day with choirs and to see and experience all emotions first hand: Excitement, nervousness, being elated to go on stage and to show finally what one has been working for for month. Then the special moment was there, and then the excitement broke up into cheers, hugs and sometimes even tears of joy.

The choir “Vocalista Angels” from Indonesia showed its joy in a very impressing way. Full of happiness they pounced on their conductor, pulled him to the ground and didn’t stop to kiss him. Due to the fact that all children had put lipstick on, you can imagine how he looked like afterwards.

Many big and small positive experiences, the choir’s great appreciation of our help, which was a matter of course, many hugs and positive reactions we felt on the spot turned the first part of the WCG into a really unforgettable experience for me. Tired but happy – this is the summary of my first WCG week in Shaoxing!!