Last May, the International Rotary Club held its annual meeting in Philadelphia. Aside from reports from Rotary Clubs throughout the world on the progress of the campaign to raise funds to wipe out poliomyelitis by the year 2000, there was also a performance. One of those boys who sang to the moon, and some new partners, moved the audience of 16,000, from 102 nations, to a standing ovation; even many men cried.

Afterwards, the 1988-89 Rotary president and members from many nations wrote to President Lee Teng-hui and local Rotary branches to express their appreciation and admiration.

This group which left such a deep impression on friends abroad and made ROC citizens proud is the Kuang Ching Amateur Chorus. The group was formed just ten years ago, and is comprised mainly of individuals handicapped by polio. Standing on crutches or sitting in wheelchairs, they are not blocked from soaring on the wings of song.

In 1979, the singing of Liu Ming, Lei Yao-lung, and four other men got the attention of Yang Wen-ho, a National Taiwan University student then doing guidance at the Care Home for orphans, the elderly, and the handicapped. Yang, himself a music lover, joined the group. Under his leadership, they decided to form Kuang Ching with "young people who love to sing."

Liu Ming, one of the founders, said the group was pretty "rough around the edges" when first formed. There was no musical accompaniment, nor any fixed place to practice. The members of the group, for whom moving is not easy, had to go from place to place to find practice space.

Shortly thereafter Kuang Ching went co-ed, adding the soft resonance of female harmonies to the strong male vocals. Moreover, the group is by no means limited to the handicapped. After a 1982 performance at Fu Jen University, Fu Jen French major Chiao Ling-mei, herself a polio victim, proposed herself as the group's pianist, so they no longer had to go a cappella. The annual Youth Day performance also began. Things seemed to be getting on track.

But Yang Wen-ho knew getting through the talent bottleneck meant better quality training. Tsai Chang-hsiung, a music teacher and conductor, agreed to lead the group--free of charge--after hearing them perform. He still leads their practices twice a week.

After Tsai's arrival, skills improved daily. But finances were still tight, with the group scrambling to pay the costs of performing. Until they met attorney Lawrence H. J. Chen. In 1987, Chen became the president of the Sanchung branch of the Rotary Club. Responding to the campaign to eradicate polio, Chen invited Kuang Ching to perform for the Rotary Club. Coincidentally, Charles Keller, President of the Rotary International, was present. Mr. Keller was moved, and pushed for Kuan Ching's Philadelphia journey in 1988. The costs were borne by Taiwan Rotarians.

At Philly, as Chairman Huang Hsin-cheng put it, "Our thirty-one hearts became one, and we sang with our finest sounds." Songs from many nations were performed at the meeting, and Kuang Ching, scheduled to perform fifteen minutes, was kept on stage by the audience for forty and finished to a standing ovation. When reading the congratulatory telegrams, the emcee noted that President Lee Teng-hui was from the nation that sent the Kuang Ching Chorus, and gave his message the unique honor of reading the complete text.

At that time the audience included the wife of the ROC's then-representative to the U.S. Frederick F. Chien, Julie T. Chien. That event linked the fates of Mrs. Chien and Kuang Ching. When returning home, Mrs. Chien asked American friends to donate money to Kuang Ching in lieu of parting gifts for the Chiens. At home, she has tried in many ways to encourage these admirable, adorable young people.

At the end of last year, when the pianist Ugene Istomin visited Taiwan, Mrs. Chien raised Kuang Ching with his wife, Marta Istomin, art director at the Kennedy Center, in hopes of getting them a chance to per form at the Very Special Arts International Festival at the center. Mrs. Istomin pronounced the group "first rate" after hearing a tape and invited them to participate in the quadrennial event this June. And that's not all--the international society of Very Special Arts has decided to open a branch in Taipei, with funds and topnotch teachers to help develop the talented handicapped persons in the ROC

At the beginning of this year, attorney Lawrence H. J. Chen and conductor Tsai Chang-hsiung continued the spirit of Kuang Ching and founded the Kuang Ching Foundation. Its short-term goal is to help the handicapped with choral and musical training. "From the Kuang Ching experience we can see clearly the impact of music on the handicapped; it can bring them from the shadows of self-pity to courageously break down barriers, and even go a step further to bring joy to others," says Chen.

The group now practices four nights a week for the Very Special Arts performance, under the baton of Tsai Chang-hsiung: "Come on, come on . . . on stage you only get marks for the music, and there are no sympathy points." The chorus sings: "Come, come, see the beautiful lily in full bloom. . . ." Everyone sings with laughter in their eyes, and the music is filled with the rhythm of joy. They seem just like that blossoming lily.

[Picture Caption]

At this large athletic center in Philadelphia, Kuang Ching moved a crowd of 16,000 Rotarians and their families from across the world to a standing ovation. (photo courtesy of Kuang Ching)

On March 29, Kuang Ching held its annual anniversary celebration/public performance. Mrs. Julie Chien, their most ardent supporter, showed up and also agreed to be interviewed. At the front, also being interviewed, is Liu Ming, one of the founders of Kuang Ching.

Tsai Chang-hsiung has been the volunteer conductor of Kuang Ching for fi ve years. He often says, "On stage there are only grades for the music; there are no sympathy points."

Most members of Kuang Ching are victims of polio, so they practice sitting down. They use the singing method of having sound resonate through the head and throat rather than from th e midsection.

Music makes them optimistic and expansive. This is a photo taken during some spare time travelling on a journey to perform in Kaohsiung. (photo courtesy of Kuang Ching)

Besides the exquisite singing, Kuang Ching comes equipped with vivid out fits and props. This is a scene of Kuang Ching performing the "Farming Village Song" last year in Kaohsiung . (photo courtesy of Kuang Ching)

On March 29, Kuang Ching held its annual anniversary celebration／public performance. Mrs. Julie Chien, their most ardent supporter, showed up and also agreed to be interviewed. At the front, also being interviewed, is Liu Ming, one of the founders of Kuang Ching.

Tsai Chang-hsiung has been the volunteer conductor of Kuang Ching for fi ve years. He often says, "On stage there are only grades for the music; there are no sympathy points.".

Music makes them optimistic and expansive. This is a photo taken during some spare time travelling on a journey to perform in Kaohsiung. （photo courtesy of Kuang Ching）

Besides the exquisite singing, Kuang Ching comes equipped with vivid out fits and props. This is a scene of Kuang Ching performing the "Farming Village Song" last year in Kaohsiung . （photo courtesy of Kuang Ching）