Singer Zhu Chongmao

Zhu Chongmao (1922--2000) was a lyric tenor. A native of Suzhou, Jiangsu. He held his first solo concert at the age of 20, and later worked in the East China Navy Art Troupe and the Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station Broadcasting Orchestra, serving as chorus conductor, soloist and artistic director. In his forty years of vocal art practice, he formed his own style based on learning traditional Western European singing methods and learning from my country's traditional folk vocal art. His singing is implicit, delicate and affectionate, with sweet timbre and clear enunciation. His control and extension of weak notes in the high range are particularly touching. His lyrical songs such as "Night on the Prairie" and "On the Hill Like a Golden Vase" have been popular for generations and are widely learned and sung by people. He once served as the artistic director of the chorus of China Broadcasting Art Troupe. Moved to the United States in 1979. In 1984, he led the creation of the New York Haiyun Choir. In January 1985, he conducted the Haiyun Choir's American premiere of the Anti-Japanese War musical epic "Yellow River Cantata" at the Alice Tolly Hall of Lincoln Center in New York. Since then, he has been working tirelessly to introduce and promote Chinese choral art to the American people. Zhu Chongmao died of illness in New York on October 11, 2000.