Uniting Faith, Culture, and Creativity: Unraveling a Transformative Hybridity within a Chinese-Canadian Christian Choir in Toronto

“Unraveling the Sinophone creative symphony of Chinese-Canadian Christian choirs in Toronto, my research explores how music becomes a transformative conduit for cultural identity, theological creativity, expression, and achieving a hybridity in the Asian Christian voice. ”

Team Members/Contributors

Chia-An (Victor) Tung Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto- Toronto School of Theology Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

My research focuses on the Chinese-Canadian Christian choir with specific reference to the Better Homeland Worship Choir (BHWC) in Toronto. Structured through a detailed case study, my goal is to explore how the BHWC effectively combines genres to spread the Gospel, while incorporating their contextual theological beliefs, cultural traditions, and sacred rituals. This study closely examines the dynamics of music and how it influences the aspirations of this choir as a diverse and vibrant organization, while considering their expressions and social synchrony (Turino 2008) to create a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere. The primary objective is to gain an understanding of the connections between singing, liturgical music making, and the overall concept of a “homeland.” All these elements nurture faith and establish an identity within the Chinese Christian community in Toronto. A crucial aspect of my research entails highlighting how the “Chinese Christian voice” evolves through transformative blending, especially when music becomes intertwined with politics, significantly impacting their experiences. By shedding light on these dimensions, this study aims to contribute to our understanding of how music influences this choir to enhance its relevance in the East Asian diaspora. I strive to showcase the presence of hybridity within this diasporic community. Within this community, music and theology intertwine to achieve a uniting expression of faith, culture, and creativity.