Chongqing Charity Concert Brings Autism to the Public Attention

On the evening of April 1, the World Autism Awareness Day Charity Concert-themed "Story of Music, Walking with Stars" was held at the Qunxing Theater in Chongqing. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Autistic children are called "children of the stars" as they often live in solitude in their own world. Marked annually on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day is set to raise awareness of autism and related research and diagnosis, as well as provide assistance to those affected by the disease.

This concert conveying sympathy and warmth was staged at the Chongqing Opera House, Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, Chongqing Jiangbei Zhuohong Social Work Service Center, and Chongqing Shapingba Huyi Social Work Service Center. As the venue's name, "Qunxing (Stars) Theater," suggests, the story of "stars" was told to the audience in the form of music.

At the concert, a story of a mother and her "star" allowed the audience to experience the life of autistic people and their families and the inner abundance of autistic children in the music. To level up the concert, the Chongqing Opera House (Chongqing Symphony Orchestra) innovated and integrated Chinese and Western music, instrumental and vocal music, auditory and visual arts, and Chinese and foreign works. Such performances as male solo "Day Lily," scene octet "Czardas and Horse Racing," female solo "My Love Is Only for You," and female trio "Huge Sky" immersed the audience in the magic of music as the story unfolded. "Music is an abstract art with concrete expressions, channeling energy into our lives. We want to express emotions with stories and warm the 'stars' with music." Said Liu Guangyu, Director of Chongqing Opera House.

Cao Yonghong, Director of Chongqing Jiangbei Zhuohong Social Work Service Center, said, "This concert is heart-warming and passionate, filled with tenderness and strength. Music can arouse our innermost feelings and reveal the passion and beauty of life. Such kindness and goodness deserve the respect of the whole society!" 

Many representatives of social workers involved in autism and families of autistic people were also present at the concert, who gave a shower of applause to every amazing performance. At the end of the concert, the host, one of the social worker representatives, introduced autism to the audience, who listened in silence. The host also called on the whole society to care for autistic children and received rapturous applause from the audience.

All the proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Chongqing Children's Aid Foundation to help and care for autistic children. Liu Guangyu also said that in the days to come, they would consider and exploit the role of music according to different themes and continue to touch the audience and inspire them to move forward with "stories of music."