Taiwan singing group set for Southeast Asia tour
11/24/2014
Taiwan a cappella artists O-Kai Singers, winner of Best Singing Group honor at last year’s Golden Melody Awards, will depart Nov. 25 on a tour of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It is important to foster exchanges between Taiwan youth and their overseas counterparts through such undertakings,” MOFA Deputy Minister Andrew Kao said. “We are extremely proud to have the singers represent Taiwan and promote the nation’s music culture.”
The deputy minister made the remarks at a send-off news conference for the aboriginal choral group Nov. 24 at MOFA headquarters in Taipei City. Also attending the event were ambassadors to the ROC of Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Palau, San Tome and Principe, and Swaziland, the charge d’affaires of Honduras, as well as representatives to Taiwan of Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Philippines.
According to Kao, the tour is testament to the government’s commitment to bolstering ties between Taiwan and Southeast Asia. “It also highlights the creativity and talent of young people in Taiwan,” he said, citing ministry-backed undertakings as local indie rockers Mixer’s recent trip to Northeast Asia and the International Youth Ambassador Exchange Program.
Led by Lai Jia-ching, creative director with O-Kai Singers, the five-member group from Hsinchu County will stage one concert in each nation, as well as play a miniconcert with a cappella group Jamaica Cafe from Indonesia.
The singers will wrap up the tour Dec. 4 in the Philippines before returning to Taiwan. (DF-JSM)
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