Little singers touch a million hearts

Born in Puge county in 1987, Jibu Xiaolong was the first in his family to attend university. After graduating from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in 2009 with a major in popular singing, he moved to Beijing with dreams of making it in the music industry, like many young people with musical aspirations. But after struggling with odd jobs and failing to get into a troupe, he returned to his hometown in 2011. Eventually, he became a teacher, and he found his true calling: not just teaching, but inspiring children to dream.

In 2017, he transferred to the school where he now works, the Dacao township central primary school in Puge, and began teaching subjects ranging from mathematics to sports. One day, while playing his guitar and singing a pop song on the playground, a group of curious children gathered around, singing along with him. The moment sparked an idea — why not form a choir? With the support of the school leadership, he began organizing a performance.

The choir started small, with only four students initially expressing interest. Over time, more joined, particularly girls, who found joy in singing and thus, the Niuniu Choir was born. The name, which refers to young girls in Yi, is a reflection of warmth and affection.

Starting a choir was not easy. Though naturally talented, the children were often shy and reserved, especially when it came to performing in front of others. Many of them had never sung publicly before. To overcome this, Jibu Xiaolong focused on building confidence, starting with simple solo performances before gradually bringing them together as a group.

He also started to write songs for the choir that were not only tailored to their vocal ranges, but also reflected their lives and the beauty of the natural surroundings. These songs, in both Yi and Mandarin, were about celebrating life, nature, and hope.

One of them, The Song of the Children, was inspired by a visit to a family home, where he saw children gathering firewood and herding animals. Another, Brave Niuniu, was written to encourage the girls to face their fears.

Jibu Xiaolong says that many girls in the region face significant educational challenges. His eldest sister had to leave school when she was 10 because her parents couldn't afford it.

"I simply want these girls to enjoy music and develop hope and courage as a result. Through music, they see a wider world, and have the courage to pursue their dreams," he says.

The choir gained recognition after performing in competitions, and its success led to more opportunities: performances on the county, prefectural, and even national stages. In 2020, the choir went viral after its videos were shared on social media, with one gaining over 600,000 views. This exposure gave the choir much-needed support — donations of instruments, teaching materials, and even financial aid for the girls' families.

Jibu Xiaolong says that beyond material support, the attention they received from people across China gave the girls something far more valuable: confidence.

"Some now hope to become professional singers, while others want to follow in their teacher's footsteps and become educators. For many, the choir has opened doors to a brighter future — one where they can rise above the limitations of their rural upbringings and reach their fullest potential," he says.

Seeing his students perform on one of China's most prestigious stages was a moment of deep fulfillment for Jibu Xiaolong. Far from the mountains that shaped them, they had sung their way into the hearts of millions. He now has new plans for the choir and hopes to attract more members, not only from Liangshan, but from around the country, by launching online choir training programs. He also looks forward to having boys sing together.

Another mission is to collect Yi ethnic folk songs and arrange them for children. "That is our goal as a choir — to reach out to the hearts of more and more people," he says.