"SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!" greatly understates the opening of the 8th China International Chorus Festival, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on the night of Thursday, July 13th, 2006. The 8th China International Chorus Festival is just one event organized by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China in conjunction with the China Arts and Entertainment Group as part of the Fourth Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival.

Pictured is Mr. Keson Tinker and the Bahamian Student's Chorale

It was a world-class peformance that would have simply taken your breath away. Cultural groups from across the country and around the world illuminated the stage with their stunningly choreographed dances, melodious voices and elegant costumes.

All of the performances were amazing, but the obvious favourite was the sixteen energetic students representing The Bahamas Students' Chorale, the only black performers in this year's festival. The Great Hall of the People erupted ecstatically into applause as the group performed "It's Hip to Hop to The Bahamas." It seemed as if even the ground and the walls burst into applause.

Once again, this Bahamian group "brought the house down" as it shone brightly on the international scene. Apart from the festival, the group's concert tour of Beijing will also take them to the Great Wall of China. The group is scheduled to leave China for The Bahamas on Tuesday, July 18^th 2006.