With the rousing chorus of "Revolutionaries Are Always Young" echoing through the hall, the curtain fell on the inaugural China Senior Choir Week, co-hosted by China Arts and Entertainment Group and the Hubei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

Over 5,000 choral enthusiasts from 99 choirs across 28 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and Hong Kong and Macao gathered in Wuhan for a week of performances, exchanges, and celebrations. From the coasts of the South China Sea to the banks of the Yangtze, silver-haired singers converged with one shared passion: to turn years into song.

At the opening gala, regional voices mingled in harmony. Wuhan's Dream Voice Women's Choir sang "The World Has Given Me" and "I Love You, China". The Jiangmen Philharmonic "Grandmas" Choir—average age 65, eldest member 92—performed a Cantonese version of "Pearl of the Orient." Tiankong Choir delivered Mao-era classic "Yi Qin E: Loushan Pass." The simple staging gave way to heartfelt performances that drew cheers, tears, and viral moments—one young audience member recorded a clip "to show my grandmother, so she'll join a choir too".

Core to the week were four adjudicated concerts. Hunan's Qunxing Choir presented folk-inspired "A Bamboo Pole Bends Easily" and the Mongolian-style "Alxa Vast as the Sky", both winning warm praise. The Xiangyang Ode to Joy Choir impressed judges with "Love Is Forever" and "Monishan", earning recognition for the depth and vitality of middle-aged and senior voices.

Beyond the stage, the festival offered masterclasses from industry experts, demonstrations by top ensembles, and a forum where veteran conductors shared insights on team-building and repertoire development. Twelve choirs from different regions pledged to host each other for future joint concerts, creating a new network of collaboration.

Flash-mob performances under Wuhan's Yellow Crane Tower and aboard a Yangtze River cruise further brought the energy of the "silver generation" to the public.

Local veteran choirs also shone. Wuhan's Dream Voice Women's Choir, a fixture in the city's senior arts scene, has recently won the "Golden Voice Award" at the first Hubei Senior Choir Conference and regularly volunteers to perform in communities. The Green City Voice Choir from Nanning, Guangxi, known for its "grassroots yet distinctive" style, has been bringing song to villages, military camps, and welfare homes since 2004.

"Choirs are not just about music—they are about joy, friendship, and vitality", said a representative from the Hubei Department of Culture and Tourism. "China Senior Choir Week will become a lasting platform to showcase the confidence, wisdom, and energy of older generations".

Organizers confirmed that the event will be held annually in Hubei as a permanent fixture on China's cultural calendar.