Tainan choir wins top 'Laurel Award' in Hungary, legislator helped secure funding

The Youwuwei Children's Choir from Tainan, Taiwan, achieved international acclaim by winning three gold medals and the prestigious "Laurel Award" at the "2026 Budapest International Choir Festival" in Hungary. The choir's success was facilitated by the support of legislator Lai Hui-yuan, who helped secure funding and resources for their international competition.

Lai Hui-yuan highlighted the choir's ability to convey Taiwanese culture and stories through their singing, encompassing Tainan's simplicity, the breadth of Hokkien, and the liveliness of Hakka. She noted the significant financial and resource challenges the choir faced in reaching the international stage.

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Thank you to every child and the parents and teachers who accompanied them all the way, allowing the stories belonging to this land to be sung to the world through the clear voices of the children.

"As a local legislator, I am very aware of the children's difficulties," Lai stated. She actively sought funding from various government bodies, including the Hakka Affairs Council, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Overseas Community Affairs Council, to enable the choir's participation.

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Taiwan is a diverse country. Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous languages together compose the most beautiful melodies of this land.

The choir's performances of "Lord Black Face" by Lin Fu-yu and the Hakka song "Spring Water" by Tsai Yu-shan deeply moved the audience. Following their triumph, the Youwuwei choir will embark on a joint tour with the Hope Choir in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, further sharing Taiwanese music globally.

Lai emphasized that the choir's performances are more than just musical exchanges; they represent cultural dialogues and a form of "people's diplomacy." She celebrated Taiwan as a diverse nation where Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous languages contribute to its beautiful melodies, urging continued support for the choir to ensure Taiwanese music resonates worldwide.

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I am very aware of the children's difficulties.