My Chinese Culture and Communities Page

Previous concert in Regina, Canada

About Oriental Dance Troupe of Ottawa

Renda Alumni Association

Maria Pellegrini Opera Company

Soprano Xiaoping Hu in Toronto

More pictures of Oriental Dance Troupe of Ottawa

Other Chinese Web Sites and Chinese Softwares

Old members of Oriental Dance Troupe of Ottawa, founded in 1988 by Ms.Jiangqing GONG with several Chinese students' spouses in Ottawa, celebrated their 11th anniversary by having a beautiful calendar with 12 family pictures on it.

Andrea wrote: "We were very excited to check over every page of the Calendar, and every page told us a story. Realizing how time has flow and how life has changed among us, we were deeply touched. Congratulation to all new weds, welcome to all unseen children, and best wishes to all facing a career change."

Marianne Situ wrote: "It's great to renew friendship with so many lovely people. Thanks to your effort, we now have a momento of our dance troupe ten years after its formation."

Click here to visit the home page of Renmin University of China
Renda Alumni
Having Graduated from The Renmin University of China so many years, Mr. Frank Chen (Chen Zhijun) is coordinating for Renda Alumni List (Edition 2) across North America. If you know more Renda schoolmates who are interested in the Alumni List, please contact Frank Chen by Email.

Here is a message from the The Renda Alumni Association (Northeast American Chapter):

Dear Renmin University Alumni:

With the effort of Mr. Chen Zhijun, coordinator of Renda Alumni Association Northeast American Chapter, now we have a great chance to earn ourselves an opportunity to set up an Exchange Program with Renmin University of China and the Department of Education. This program enables our overseas alumni to give a speech on an approved topic in Renmin University and get a one-way flight (to China) reimbursement! This opportunity is only limited to alumni from Metro New York area.
Mr. Chen just went to Renmin University of China and met with the Vice Dean Mr. Zhou Jianming and Vice President Mr. Zheng Yingliang. With his kindness and connection, Renmin University agreed to invite alumni to come back give a speech of 3-4 hours (can be longer) to our fellow students.
Now we are collecting topics from everyone who is interested in giving a speech. With a rich list of topics to show the Department of Education, we will be able to get approval of the program. If your topic(s) is approved, you can go back to China at your convenience, give a speech and get reimbursed.

......
So the sooner you give us your topic(s), the better chance that you will be included in the program. So think about a topic or topics in the area of your expertise. Don't let our fellow students disappoint at our speeches. It can also be a Q&A discussion session as well.
I would like to thank Mr. Chen for his efforts to serve our alumni association and our community. Throughout the year, Mr. Chen helped organize an Art Performance to raise money for the flooded area in South China, collected alumni information and typed in an alumni list, and contacted the Renmin University and Department of Education to set up this Exchange Program.

Here is a list of things you need to submit to Mr. Chen Zhijun (CHEN5818@aol.com) in order to be considered in the program:

Topic(s) and for each topic;
Abstract of your speech;
Outline of your speech;
Timing of your speech (at least 3-4 hours);
Your resume.

The application Form for the Exchange Program is ready in both Chinese and English. Everyone in Metro New York region can apply. The deadline for submitting your application is Wednesday, December 1, 1999.

It's in both NJ format and in English. You do need to fill out some info in Chinese. Fax it (at 718-281-1218) or email it back to Frank Chen(CHEN5818@aol.com). If you have submitted your application already, including all the requested information, then you are in. If there are info in the form that you haven't submitted, please also use the form to fill it out. Download NanJiXing software at NJStar

Thank you!

Lynda Zhang

If you have home page to link, or if you want to add on something on our site, please feel free to contact the Webmaster.

Click here to visit one of our alumni - Jack Liu's family home page

Maria Pellegrini's Opera Company

One of the Ottawa newspaper describes Ms.Maria Pellegrini as the queen of "Madama Butterfly", since she has performanced this Opera in the international stages across the world for over 200 times. She gives twice Students Operatic Recitals every year in Ottawa. She held another operatic concert for herself and her students in Ottawa on May 19, 1999 . Last year, was my last performance in Ottawa. Mr.Cai, my piano accompanist and partner helped me a lot. And I am always grateful to another Maestro Leon Leung who passed away more than two years, Maestro Leung used to spend at least one hour per week to help me for my vocal training without charging a penny. I wrote an article in Chinese to remember his kindness!

1996 Pellegrini Company's Operatic Recital

1998 Chinese New Year Show

Ms.Maria Pellegrini ,Mr.HuiGuang Cai and me after the concert -1996

1996 Operatic Recital in Ottawa

Famous Chinese Soprano Xiaoping Hu's Recital in Toronto Ford Center

That was a beautiful Saturday night in George Weston Recital Hall, Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, in Toronto, thoudreds of audiences bursted into thunderous applause when Xiao-Ping Hu gave three more encores for her recital. It was full house that night. This concert presented by the Toronto Canadian Chinese Artists Centre (TCCAC). The guest performers are the North York Symphony Orchestra, conductor is the Maestro Kerry Stratton, Tenor Stephen McClare did solo and duet with Xiaoping Hu. The Chinese Violinist Ding Huang performed a solo as well. All audiences are amazed by Xiaoping's beautiful voice and very mature, excellent technique and high note control, especially I like the arias of "Caro nome" from "Rigoletto" by Verdi and the" Qui la Voce Ariafroni" from "I Puritani" by Bellini that she sang, which as an old Chinese saying "The music lingered in the air for another three days"...

Xiaoping Hu, a soprano with a clear, bright and beautiful lyrical voice, was born in Shanghai, China. She studied singing at the Shanghai Conseratory of Music where she was expertly trained in the singing of Western operas and art songs by Professor Gao Zhilan, as well as by such world-renowned artistists as Gino Bechi and Beverly Sills. In 1982, Ms. Hu won the first prize ans Special Award for Opera Singers at the 20th Budapest International Music Competition. Since that time, she frequently has been invited to perform in Eastern and Western Europe, in North America and in Asia. Her masterful performances as Violetta in La Traviata and as Mimi in La Boheme were applauded by critics as "an embodiment of the merit of classical opera." She was also praised for having "infused the essence of Oriental beauty into Western European Opera."

In 1986, Ms.Hu began futhering her studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, under the guidance of the renowned professor of music, Gartor Carelli. She immigrated to Canada in 1990, where she became to found the Xiaoping Chorus in Toronto, and has served as its Music Director.

In 1997, Ms. Hu performanced in Hungary, returning after an absence of over ten years. There she received widespread acclaim from critics and audienced alike, and recorded a compact disk woth the Hungary National Opera Orchestra. The following year she was again invited to hungary to sing the leading role in La Boheme with the Hungary National Opera. Subsequently, she gave solo recitals in Vienna, Moscow and St.Peterbsburg. During recent years and on numerous occations, Ms. Hu has been invited to perform in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities in China. Most notably, on July 1, 1997, she sang at a special occation celebrating the return of Hong Kong to China. And she performed at the Chinese 50th National Day concert in Beijing.

She is one of the best vocal teacher that I have ever had in Toronto.

More Pictures:
1989 Celebrating the National Civilization Museum in Hull