National program launched to train folk singers

The 2026 Chinese National Vocal Performance Talent Training Program, a five-week initiative supported by the China National Arts Fund to cultivate a new generation of elite performers and educators in Chinese folk singing, was launched at China Conservatory of Music on July 18.

The opening ceremony brought together leading vocal educators, performers and scholars from across the country. The program aims to strengthen the preservation and innovation of China's rich vocal traditions through intensive professional training.

Thirty participants were selected through a highly competitive nationwide process. The cohort includes outstanding vocal teachers from major music conservatories and performers from professional arts companies, with several recipients of the Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music.