Shenzhen Lily Choir

A concert featuring the Shenzhen Lily Choir and singers of different ethnicities promises to take local audiences on a music tour around China and get them in touch with colorful cultural traditions from their seats Saturday.

The program will include works by late composers Lajos Bardos and Josef Hadar as well as talented contemporary composer Abbie Betinis, known for her richly melodic and inventive style.

The program will also include songs adapted from the folk tunes of ethnic minorities living in China, such as Jingpo, Lahu, Naxi, Hani, Tibet and Kazakh, accompanied by unique instruments like the gourd mouth organ, xiao reed flute and dombra. Various singing techniques like khoomei, or throat singing, will be demonstrated during the performance.

Before the concert, a Tajik choir composed of children from the Pamir Mountain region in Xinjiang will perform two songs and their traditional eagle dance, accompanied by the eagle flute, outside the symphony hall. There will also be a mini-exhibition of ethnic handcrafts and ethnic outfits and accessories in the area.

Founded in 1997, the Lily choir is comprised of teen girls from Shenzhen Senior High School. Led by conductor Hu Manxue, the choir has been described as clear, bright, penetrating, warm and colorful. The choir performs more than 20 concerts each year, featuring both traditional and international famous pieces, as well as premieres of specially commissioned works from internationally recognized composers.

The ensemble has received numerous international awards, including the Grand Prix at the eighth World Choir Games, grand champion at the fifth International Johannes-Brahms Choir Festival and Competition in Germany, and first place for children’s choir at the 36th Tolosa International Choral Festival in Spain.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 9

Tickets: 100-680 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D(Li Dan)