BLIA Canada Choirs Join the Buddha's Light Cup Competition with Gratitude and Determination

On September 16, the Canada Choirs of the North American Buddha’s Light, led by Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, and guided by Venerable Ru Zhong, participated in the inaugural Buddha’s Light Cup Choir Competition in Melaka, Malaysia. The competition took place at the Encore Melaka National Theatre, bringing together 17 choirs from 9 countries, withover 900 participants in attendance.

Due to the geographical expanse of Canada, rehearsals posed a logistical challenge, with choir members from Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa. To address this, Conductor Ms. Ling Lu traveled from Vancouver to Toronto in August to lead three days of intensive rehearsals with the Toronto and Ottawa choirs. The full ensemble could only gather two days before the competition in Melaka, making each rehearsal crucial to their preparation.

The Canadian choir performed The Wonderful Path of Mountains and Waters(山水妙路), a piece with lyrics by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The arrangement, enriched with sounds of drums, rain, and birds, conveyed the grandeur of nature and there silience of the human spirit. The performance earned the Canadian team the prestigious "Three Acts of Goodness Award." Venerable Chueh Pei, Secretary-General of the International Buddhist Progress Society, commented, "Every team that puts their heart into this competition is a champion."

Following the competition, participants attended a celebratory banquet and enjoyed a cultural tour of Melaka. The Canadian team also visited Malaysia’s largest temple, Dong Zen Temple, along with other branch temples, immersing themselves in the rich Buddhist culture of the region.

Team leader Sue Hutchison expressed her gratitude, stating, "Participating in the first Buddha's Light Cup Choir Competition was an invaluable experience. We gained knowledge, but more importantly, we found joy and positive energy throughout the journey, building camaraderie that will stay with us. We are deeply grateful to Venerable Master Hsing Yun for his compassionate vows, which gave us the strength and opportunity to share our music on an international stage. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the organizers and hosts for their meticulous planning and care. The wonderful memories we created will remain vivid, and we are already eager to prepare forthe 2026 competition, aiming for an even greater performance."