During the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival in Beijing, the Utah Valley Choral Scholars performed the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower" in a rearranged version. Preserving the Chinese melody and pronunciation while incorporating Western choral harmonies, the performance was described as "one jasmine, two blossoms," resonating with both Chinese and American audiences.

On July 14, the historic Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing hosted the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival. The photo shows the Utah Valley Choral Scholars performing "Jasmine Flower." [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

Reed Criddle, who grew up in Oakland, California, United States, studied Chinese and music at Stanford University and earned a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Michigan. He has long been interested in bridging cultures through music. "Music is a bridge for cultural exchange," he said. "Just as my Chinese friends learn American culture through U.S. songs, we can learn Chinese songs to deepen understanding."

During his first China tour with the choir of Utah Valley University in 2013, Criddle performed Jasmine Flower and Boat on Taihu Lake. With published arrangements scarce in the West, he created his own version to resonate with both Chinese and Western audiences. Since then, choirs in multiple countries have performed his arrangement.

To help students grasp Chinese songs, Criddle emphasizes accurate pronunciation through the International Phonetic Alphabet and cultural understanding by inviting cultural experts to discuss the songs' history and meaning. His arrangements blend Western and Chinese musical styles to convey both traditions simultaneously.

On July 16, the closing performance of the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival was held at the China National Opera House in Beijing. The photo shows the China-U.S. performers posing together before the show. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

While U.S. choirs rarely perform Chinese music, Criddle hopes collaboration with Chinese musicians can help more Chinese traditional songs reach global audiences. "Music is universal," he said. "It allows people from different cultures to connect and appreciate each other's heritage."

"As an American passionate about Chinese traditional culture, I create choral works based on classical Chinese poetry and folk songs," Criddle said. "Yet Chinese culture is vast, and works by poets such as Li Bai or Tao Yuanming rarely have published choral arrangements in the West. Many composition students in China focus on modern songs rather than classical pieces. I hope to collaborate with Chinese musicians who combine strong musical training with deep cultural knowledge, so more Chinese songs can be published internationally and traditional Chinese music can reach a global audience."

Reed Criddle [Photo provided by Reed Criddle]