Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • WINTER 2018 • PAN PIPES 9 In 2012, Taizhou, China was the fourth city to be adopted as a Sister City of Fort Wayne, IN. e mission of Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, Inc. (FWSCII) is: "Globally advancing friendship and peace through educational, cultural and economic exchanges." To celebrate its 5-year anniversary in 2017, Fort Wayne Sister Cities planned to bring the famous Taizhou Luantan Opera Company to the entire community of Fort Wayne in March 2017. is was the first time the Taizhou Luantan Opera Company of 25 singers, instrumentalists, dancers, and acrobats, plus two other city officials from the city of Taizhou would come to the United States. FWSCII had planned to collaborate with the Foundation for Art and Music for Education (FAME) to celebrate their 30 th Anniversary by having the opera company perform for students from Kindergarten through 8th grade in schools in the metropolitan area of Fort Wayne. e opera company could not get their visas in March of 2017 as originally planned, however, and procured visas for October. It was decided to offer a free performance for all school children at a public performance on October 15th, followed by another performance for the entire community. Both performances were sold out. is was the first time that Fort Wayne audiences were able to see a live Chinese Opera. It was thrilling to see the colorful costumes and the exotic make-up with the sounds of the Chinese orchestra, which consisted of authentic Chinese instruments. Traditional Chinese Opera has dramatic make-up, songs, colorful costumes, dance, and acrobatics representing traditional Chinese stories that date back over 400 years to the Ming Dynasty. It is very unique to the Chinese culture and is different from European Opera due to the different instruments and the singers' unique vocal production. e fact that Taizhou has a rich history of Chinese Opera makes it a very special city. In 2011, the troupe went to Germany to participate in Europe's largest and oldest International Cultural Festival performances and won the highest honor. Today, so much of our music is heard from recordings or on radio and TV. We wanted to offer the public, and especially our young students, the opportunity to hear and see magnificent performances of the Taizhou Opera, which they may never have witnessed "live" unless they travel abroad to China. It is an important goal to educate the public of the arts of our sister cities (Takaoka, Japan; Gera, Germany; Plock, Poland; Taizhou, China; and Mawlamyine, Myanmar, our newest Friendship City). In 2017, Taizhou Luantan Opera Company was highlighted with performances for our whole community. To share the arts of our Sister Cities is the way to building friendships. Music is the universal language, which can bring people together in peace, note-by-note and person-to-person. e power of music can change lives. — Dorothy Kittaka, Fort Wayne Sister Cities Chairperson and Fort Wayne SAI Alumnae Chapter member Bringing Taizhou Opera to Indiana Performers with the Taizhou Luantan Opera Company perform in various scenes that showcase the dramatic costumes, dance, and acrobatics. MUSIC NOTES

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