Congratulations, NOCCC!by Liwei Chen, Founding President
President Chiu, Music Director Lin, faculty members, parents, boys and girls: Good evening! This year, NOCCC marks her 20th season. Today, we gather here to celebrate the 20th birthday of NOCCC. Twenty years ago, in April 1989, North Orange County Children’s Choir was founded. Twenty-five young and talented boys and girls held their very first rehearsal in our founding music director Wendy Yu’s humble living room in Placentia, California. Over the years, the choir has grown and now includes over 150 singers in 6 ensembles, ranging from the Preparatory Group for our youngest members to our showcase Concert and Ensemble Groups. Our weekly rehearsal place has moved from the Evangelical Church of Orange, where we were for more than 13 years, to the SCCCA Culture Center in Irvine. Over the past twenty years, more than one thousand youngsters have joined NOCCC. Many of them have stayed many years with the choir. The elder alumni are now in their early thirties or late twenties. The younger alumni are in college or have graduated from college. No matter what age they are at, there is one thing in common among all alumni – they were all trained in NOCCC. In addition to music skills, they also acquired a sense of responsibility, discipline, self-confidence and team spirit. They all are successful in the growing paths of their personal lives and have become better citizens of our society and community. Of special note, one of our alumni singers, Stephen Pu, has returned to NOCCC after graduate study in choral conducting at UCLA to lead our Advanced Group. Mr. Pu is a role model. To all of the teachers and parents, I would like to thank you for your dedication, love and support for this organization. Without your efforts and assistance, NOCCC would not be what it is today. Thank you all. So, boys and girls, let’s learn and have fun together in NOCCC. As you grow up, I hope each one of you will treasure the good friendships you have made with your fellow choir members and remember the lovely times you have enjoyed in NOCCC. And all of you will always feel proud that you have once been a part of NOCCC. Congratulations, everyone. Happy 20th anniversary, NOCCC. |