During a rural choir festival held on International Children's Day by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province, students from rural areas dressed in festive costumes and confidently performed on a stage beside rice paddies.

 

"It is the first time the choral festival has taken root in townships," said Li Peizhi, president of the Chinese Chorus Association.

 

Students from rural areas in festive costumes perform during the rural choir festival held on June 1 by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Anren is a major labor-exporting county. Eighty percent of its schools are in rural areas and more than 60 percent of the students don't live with their parents, who are working in other cities, either domestically or abroad.

 

With music, many students have changed a lot. Some of them used to be afraid to sing in front of others, but now they are more outgoing and expressive.

 

Students from rural areas in festive costumes perform during the rural choir festival held on June 1 by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

In 2013, Beijing Deqing Foundation, a charity group devoted to improving education in poverty-stricken areas, piloted a music program in Anren. More than 1 million yuan ($150,000) is allocated each year to promote choir and other art education activities in its rural schools.

 

Students from rural areas in festive costumes perform during the rural choir festival held on June 1 by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Over the past years, 52 chorus groups have mushroomed in Anren under the sponsorship of the foundation. More than 60,000 students join each year. Some of them have performed on national-level stages.

 

More than 70 chorus conductors, teachers and other volunteers participated in the project.

 

More than 70 chorus conductors, teachers and other volunteers participated in a charity project to promote choirs in rural schools in Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Students from rural areas in festive costumes perform during the rural choir festival held on June 1 by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Students from rural areas in festive costumes perform during the rural choir festival held on June 1 by Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

A volunteer teaches students choirs in a rural school in Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

A volunteer teaches students choirs in a rural school in Anren county of Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]