After teaching in the University’s School of Music and Dance for 30 years, professor emeritus Randall Moore started teaching the Oregon Children’s Choir. Eight years ago, he went to Beijing to check out the world-renowned China National Symphony Orchestra and one particular singer caught his ear.
“When I heard her,” Moore remembered, “I said to the conductor, ‘She’s such a good musician, she should come to the U of O and do her master’s studies.”
A while later, Xiangqing “Holly” Feng enrolled at the University, graduating with a maste

r’s degree in music education in December 2005. Thursday, she came back to Oregon with the CNSO, for which she is currently a conductor.
Tonight, about 70 members of both the CNSO’s Children’s and Young Women’s Choirs will perform in Beall Concert Hall.
Children study for years before being allowed to audition for the choir at age nine. The Young Women’s Choir won two gold prizes at the 2006 Busan Choral Festival and Competition in South Korea.
“What’s really great is that they not only know how to sing folk songs from China in a stylistically appropriate way, but they also sing European composition music in a very accurate style, as well as American, composed, folk, Broadway,” said Moore, who likes that the choirs incorporate instruments and dancing into their performances. “It’s just a great show, a wonderful variety show, you could say.”
He added that Feng’s career could be an inspiration to current University students, and seeing Feng’s alma mater has already inspired members of the Young Women’s Choir.
“I already know at least two who are interested in the business school to study for their master’s degrees,” Feng said. “I told them it’s the best place in the world to study. It’s not too big, it’s quiet, there are beautiful libraries. And Americans are very friendly.”
Friday afternoon, the Young Women’s Choir performed in the Sousa Room of the Eugene Hilton and Conference Center during the Oregon Music Educators Association’s annual four-day conference. With operatic voices and matching red dresses, the 22 women, ranging in age from 20 to 35, sang two hours of songs, including “Ave Maria,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “The Sound of Music.”
Lisa Marie Brooks, band director at West Sylvan Middle School in Portland, said she would highly recommend tonight’s concert to University students.
“What I appreciate is their energy and their musicality,” she said. “They’re not afraid to express themselves not only visually, but also vocally. They enjoy it.”
“I would pay to hear them again if I had the opportunity. They’re phenomenal.”
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