The opening chorus was a specially composed piece by Wang Ning of the China Conservatory.

Hot on the heels of the World Choir Games, which just wrapped up in Shaoxing of East China's Zhejiang Province, comes the China International Chorus Festival. The biennial event kicked off on a high note Wednesday night at the Exhibition Center Theater in Beijing, with a grand opening performance celebrating the theme of the festival -- "Forever Friends."

The opening chorus was a specially composed piece by Wang Ning of the China Conservatory. Entitled "Hakka Folk Song", it is inspired by the folk customs and cultural traditions of the Hakka people who for the most part reside in southern China.

Holding the baton was Yu Feng, director of China National Opera House. The opener united both the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and a choir consisting of students and singers from both Shenzhen and Beijing. The collaboration smartly balanced the complexity of the counterpoint music and multiple-voice scores.

Wednesday night's concert marked the opening of the 10th China International Chorus Festival. The event was inaugurated in 1992. Over the years it has grown into one of the most prestigious chorus competitions in China, attracting choirs from all over the world. This time around, the festival has drawn more than three-thousand participants from 62 choirs around the globe.

The panel of judges is comprised of top-notch musicians, conductors and conservatory professors from both home and abroad. Tian Yubin, Chairman of Chinese Chorus Association - who is also one of the judges of the competition - explains that a set of detailed judging criteria is ready to ensure fairness for all.

Tian Yubin, Chairman of Chinese Chorus Association, said, "First up, we will judge contestants' accuracy of tones, which is at the core of our scoring. Secondly, we'll check out contestants' understanding of the tunes they sing. Then, we'll consider the quality of their voices, and finally their prowess of conveying a musical message to the audience."

Organizers hope the power of singing can help music lovers from different nations experience the strength of interaction, enjoy the music, and enjoy themselves.

Apart from the chorus competition, the festival also features chorus forums, workshops, and non-competing performances on the sidelines.

The 10th International Chorus Festival runs through August the 2nd.