Pop&Jazz Artistic Director ─ Ray Chu
Founder and Convener of the New Choral Cultural Arts Foundation Served two 3-year terms as chairman of the board and executive director concurrently
Currently serves as Artistic director of jazz and pop development TCMC, as conducting instructor with the Shih Hsin University choir, and as conductor of the Voice of Great Love Choir and For-You Choir (former Feng-Chia University Alumni choir).
After graduating from Feng Chia University with a degree in Computer Science, a passion for music led Chu Yuan-lei to begin practicing choral conducting in 1975. Since then he has conducted many community, company, and collegiate choirs. He has participated in several conducting masters classes in America and Europe as a way to broaden his musical horizons and increase his expertise.
He quit his profession in 2000 to pursue his dream of choral music, forming the Taipei New Choral Cultural Arts Foundation/Taiwan Choral Music Center with a group of friends. He served the first two terms as chairman of the board, totaling six years in all; he is also a life-time volunteer at the Foundation. Chu has spent much effort in developing TCMC and started the first Taiwan International A Cappella Festival, which has become the largest international a cappella competition in Asia. This alone has done much in advancing contemporary a cappella music in Taiwan. Internationally acclaimed for his efforts in choral music, he was included in Germany’s Who is Who in Choral Music, 2007. This is a unique honor for those in Taiwan choral music circles.
In 2008, Chu went to America to study the composition and performance of vocal jazz and a cappella music. After returning to Taiwan, he has done much in promoting vocal groups and contemporary a cappella, the results of which include the formation of many new a cappella groups and an overall increase in musical capabilities. In 2009, he became a resident artist at Shih Hsin University in Taipei, where he continues to promote a new choral art.He is now the artistic director of pop&Jazz development department in TCMC.
Choral Experience
2017Invited by HK “Tung Wah Group of Hospitals”, Took and perform with “Melody” aged vocal band.
Video recorded my teaching clases in China by iartschool and teaching.
Invited by HK ADA again for Train the trainer program.
Invited by Korea Incheon airport a cappella competition as judicator.
Invited by Japan collegiate a cappella competition as judicator.
Invited by Ping Tung County government to conduct train the trainer program the third times.
Took The Beinders to tour concerts in Taiwan.
Holding TIVE (Taiwan International Vocal Festival” the 17th year.
2016Started teaching contemporary a cappella in elementary school.
Invited by HK “Tung Wah Group of Hospitals” to coaching three aged groups.
Started first round contemporary a cappella competition in north and south of Taiwan and discussion panel right after the competition.
Took Popphone Singers to Beijing to perform in the Great Hall of People with more then 6000 audiences.
Took The Bleiders vocal band to Graz and perform in the Vokal.Total Festival.
Recorded Chinese Peoms a cappella CD with Hang-Guang vocal band.
Invited by Ping-Tung county government Train the Trainer program 18 hours in two days.
Holding TIVE (Taiwan International Vocal Festival” the 16th year.
2015Took For-You chorus to Europe Cantat in Pecs/Hungary. Took Voices of Great Love to Thaland to perform. Took Hang-Guang Vocal Band to China twice to sing a cappella in Chinese Peoms.
Invited by HK a cappella competition as Judicator.
Took High school music teacher to present contemporary a cappella teaching cases at 5 cities in Taiwan.
Presented “Chord Singing” method in many schools and workshops.
Holding TIVE (Taiwan International Vocal Festival” the 15th year.
2014Invited by Korea Incheon Airport a cappella competition as judicator.
Took The Bleinders, Invited by HK radio station and perform.
Took Hang-Guang vocal band to Hangzhou and peform.
Publish my first book called “Chord Singing” it is a rapid method to sing any pop tune in contemporary a cappella style.
Invited by HK ADA again for Train the trainer program.
Started “on stage coaching” after the young group performance.
Holding TIVE (Taiwan International Vocal Festival” the 14th year.
2013Started SingSingSing a cappella reading session. Formed three aged a cappella groups, aged over 50.
Went to Aarhus and Leipzig for a cappella festivals.
Took Guang-Ching chorus to Thailand and Voices of Great Love to Turkey for choral festivals and competitions.
Invited by HK for The Bleinders to perform in ADA gala concert.
Invited by HK a cappella competition as judicator.
Holding TIVE (Taiwan International Vocal Festival” the 13th year.
2012Took Guang-Ching Chorus to Florence choral competition in Italy got one gold, two brown medal. Then went to Graz with VocoNovo who won two golds, then went to Aarhus/Danmark to study Complete Vocal Technique with Tine Fris.
Stared “The Bleinders”, the vocal band with visually impaired members.
2009-2010Resident artist at Shih Hsin University in Taipei.
2009Took music group the Public Bath House to Graz, Austria for the Vokal.Total International Vocal Festival; awarded 1st prize in the pop category.
2008Studied “Bass line writing”, “scat”, “vocal percussion”, “vocal jazz arrangement and performance” and “contemporary a cappella” in the U.S.
Took Shih Hsin University choir to Greece for an international competition; awarded silver medal and Best Stage Performance.
Took Focal Plus to Graz, Austria for Vokal.Total International Vocal Festival.
Took Popphone Singers to the 3rd Chun Cheon A Cappella Arts Festival Competition in Korea; awarded 1st place.
Took Popphone Singers to Hong Kong for a Performances in an A Cappella festival.
Turned the TCMC competition into pure Contemporary a cappella style.
2007Included in Germany’s Who is Who in Choral Music, Conducted Shih Hsin University choir in the Golden Voice Awards competition; awarded honorable mention.
Took the Voice of Great Love Choir to the Vivace Choir Festival in Hungary; awarded Best Stage Performance.
Took the O-Kai Singers to Graz, Austria for Vokal.Total International Vocal Festival; awarded 3rd place in the jazz category.
Took Popphone Singers to the 3rd Chun Cheon A Cappella Arts Festival Competition in Korea; awarded 1st place.
Started “Spring Vocal Festival,SVF” with 24 Taiwan groups marathon singing.
2005Conducted Feng Chia University alumni choir and Shih Hsin University choir at the Golden Voice Awards; won 3rd place.
Started inviting international groups to compete and perform tour concerts in Taiwan which open up the vision of contemporary a cappella in Taiwan.
2004Invited to plan crossover performance of the Feng Chia University alumni choir and Skybridge Folk Arts Troupe at the Taipei Arts Season.
2002Conducted Feng Chia University alumni choir in the Golden Voice Awards competition; received honorable mention; awarded silver medal at the 2nd World Choir Games in Korea for the mixed chamber category, as well as a “National Honor” award from the Taiwan Council for Cultural Affairs.
2001Took Shih Shin University choir to attend the Golden Voice Awards competition; awarded honorable mention.
Started Taiwan International Choral Ensemble Competition” now called “Taiwan International Vocal Festival, TIVF”.
2000Founded the New Choral Cultural Arts Foundation (Taiwan Choral Music Center, TCMC); served as executive director of Taiwan Choral Music Center.
Took Shih Shin University choir to attend the Golden Voice Awards competition; awarded honorable mention.
1998Founded the Double Chin Men's Quartet.
Took Shih Hsin University choir to Llangollen Choral Competition; won 4th place in the youth category.
1997Took the Voice of Great Love Choir to attend the Golden Voice Awards competition; awarded 4th place.
Took Shih Hsin University choir to attend the National University and College Cup Choral Competition; won 1st place.
1995Served as initial conductor of the Taipei Voice of Great Love Choir.
1993-1994Conducted Taipei World Trade Center choir.
1992-1993Conducted the Taipei Bank choir; awarded 3rd place in Standardized Receipt Choral Competition in 1993.
1989-1991Suzhou University choral teacher and conductor; many top awards at competitions.
1980-1985Conducted Feng Chia University alumni choir; awarded 2nd place in the Golden Voice Awards in national choral competition in 1981.
1978-1980Started the Feng Chia University Staff choir and served as conductor.
1977Took Feng Chia University choir to choral competition at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall; won 1st place.
1975Served as choir conductor at Feng Chia University, started my music career.
1974joined Feng-Chia University Chorus which changed my life since then.
