Orchestrated to overcome

A folk ensemble whose members live with disability has won national acclaim. Xu Fan reports.

While Zhong Huile's sense of sight is impaired, his sense for sound is superb.

The 30-year-old can only watch the news with his face practically touching the screen while wearing glasses. So he listens to the news, rather than viewing it.

But the Shanshui Orchestra's co-director broadcasts stories to the world with perfect clarity using his flute.

The ensemble is China's only folk orchestra whose members all live with disability.

Zhong leads rehearsals and performances. Liu Jidong handles administration.

Media have dubbed Shanshui "angels with broken wings". And the orchestra won an award voted on by netizens and hosted by Xinhua News Agency on Jan 16.

Shanshui has won more than 50 provincial-level and national competitions. Wang Zhao, who was disabled by childhood polio, holds a Shanghai Guinness World Record for playing the erhu, (a Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument) exceptionally well - while holding it in reverse.

The erhu is typically held in a player's left hand while the right hand operates the bow.

Wang's right hand has limited functionality. So he uses that hand to steady the instrument, fingering the notes with the few fingers on that hand with some mobility, and draws the bow with his left.

"Most erhu instructors refused to teach Wang when he was a child," Liu says.

"He had to explore the erhu and test his abilities many times. He has since insisted on practicing more than 10 hours a day."

Liu, who's also a vocalist, and Zhong were teachers at a Beijing University for Science and Technology art department for students with disabilities in 2006.

The department was dis-banded after two years because there were too few applicants, Liu recalls.

But the instructors and students wanted to pursue their musical aspirations.

So they formed the orchestra.

The 14-member ensemble started with 30 members during its 2008 founding.

They discovered striking it out on their own was tougher than expected - especially financially.

"We didn't have money for food during the hardest times," Liu recalls.

"Fortunately, a Taoist temple gave us rice, oil and fruit." Their economic challenges forced them to leave the capital for Jinyun, a small town in Zhejiang province.

A philanthropist who ran a travel company in the town's Xiandu Scenic Area hired the orchestra to perform for tourists.

After three years, the group decided to strike out again for Beijing.

Several entrepreneurs helped them rent a yard near the northeastern Sixth Ring Road.

Most of the orchestra members - three of whom are blind - must make a three-hour bus commute between their remote residences and downtown.

"We're happy now," says erhu player DuMan, who also became disabled from child-hood polio and uses crutches. The 26-year-old smiles as she does her makeup by dim cellphone light backstage.

She earns 1,200 yuan ($200) a month but says she leads a rich life.

"When God closes a window, he opens a door. Music is my door."

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/03/2015 page21)