On September 12th, Tianjin University (TJU) celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a chorus competition held in the Qiushui Hall on Peiyangyuan Campus. Among the 30 staff teams from different schools and departments, the chorus from the College of Management and Economics (CoME) won the first prize with a song "The Country."

The CoME chorus consists of nearly 70 staff members and 4 students from CoME, the New Media Research Institute and the Ma Yinchu School of Economics. Few of them are professional singers.

Xue-min Yuan, the chorus conductor and teacher from the Department of Information Management and Management Science, couldn't contain his excitement. He said, “It’s not perfect, but you must reap what you have sown. I have loved music since my childhood, and I want to share the happiness brought by music with my colleagues. We don’t have to be professional, but it’s a harvest of happiness, and that is enough. I'm proud to be part of this team!"

Yi-xuan Ren, the chorus leader and the instructor of the class of 2018 undergraduate students said, "Thanks to all the teachers who participated in the chorus and gave suggestions. It's really touching to hear the collective mix of voices. We love CoME, and we are the best!"

Yan Guo, a member of the chorus and a teacher from the Department of Accounting and Financial Management said, "I feel so moved! Singing relieves stress, improves team cohesion and keeps energy alive."

"This is the first time in my life that I have won a first prize in singing. We can become better in an excellent organization," said Fan Yang, a chorus member and instructor of the class of 2016 undergraduate students.

The chorus competition showed the CoME staff esprit de corps as well as expressing good wishes for the motherland. They sang in praise of the magnificent course of development and brilliant achievements since the founding of New China 70 years ago.

Before the chorus contest, all the members of the chorus experienced an intense week of training. They had to finish a daunting task in a short time, but they balanced the pressure of work and training successfully and worked overtime to rehearse. Everyone gave advice, polished every detail, and sang with a beautiful voice.

CoME has been focusing on creating a choral culture atmosphere, and the chorus has made great achievements. CoME established a chorus, making singing an important part of the development of aesthetic education in the college, enriching teachers' cultural life and unifying the department.

By CoME

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington