"Ordinary People and Things" Gao Shuzhi: Singing a New Life
2024-08-08
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【Everything for Every Mortal】
Gao Shuzhi: Singing a new life
Gao Shuzhi's solo concert. Photo provided by the interviewee
New Gansu·Gansu Daily reporter Wang Junjie
"The singing brings the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds, and the proud smile is so sweet..."
On Tuesday afternoon, Gao Shuzhi came to the activity room of Jiankang Road Community, Jianlan Road Street, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City as usual for the weekly chorus rehearsal. The 73-year-old is the director of the Sunshine Art Troupe and a breast cancer patient with 16 years of experience fighting cancer.
Fighting the disease with singing
When the reporter met Gao Shuzhi, she was wearing delicate makeup, high heels and a red skirt, looking elegant and confident, and she didn't look like a cancer patient at all. Talking about her experience fighting cancer for more than a decade, Gao Shuzhi smiled calmly: "Singing gave me a second life."
In 2008, Gao Shuzhi was diagnosed with breast cancer. This news was like a bolt from the blue. She was discouraged and desperate and fell into deep fear: "Why did I get cancer? How long do I have left to live..."
The treatment process was long and painful. During those years, Gao Shuzhi suffered a lot and felt like she was living a year. One day in 2013, when Gao Shuzhi and her husband passed by the community activity center on Jianlan Road in Qilihe District, she was deeply attracted by the singing coming from inside. She stopped to listen and recalled the days when she sang. Gao Shuzhi loved singing since she was a child and was a "pillar" of the unit when she was young.
"Can I still sing like before?" With the encouragement and support of her family, she regained her dream, devoted herself to singing, constantly practiced her vocal skills, and used her singing to sing out the beauty and hope of life.
With day after day of singing, Gao Shuzhi's health has improved significantly, and follow-up examinations showed that all indicators are normal.
"Singing is good for your health, you have to keep going." The doctor gave Gao Shuzhi great affirmation, which gave her more confidence. In November 2013, with the encouragement and help of her family, Gao Shuzhi held a solo concert, with more than 500 audience members. They were moved by Gao Shuzhi's story and cheered for this cancer patient. Seeing so many people supporting her, Gao Shuzhi was very happy: "I will continue to sing and bring happiness to more people."
Infect team members with optimism
One day in 2016, Gao Shuzhi was chatting with a dozen of her good friends and found that many of them had been taking care of their grandchildren at home after retirement. Their lives had become a routine of going to and from the market, and they had less communication with others and became bored. This was not going to work, so Gao Shuzhi came up with the idea of forming a choir.
At first, the sisters didn't sing well, and they didn't dare to sing. Sometimes they were unwilling to come to rehearsal. Gao Shuzhi took the initiative to contact them and set an example to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm. If they didn't sing well, she would ask professional vocal teachers to teach them music theory and vocal techniques; if they didn't sing in unison, she would rehearse again and again until they were satisfied. Finally, everyone sang more and more in unison and better. Looking at everyone's changes, Gao Shuzhi showed a satisfied smile: "These good sisters of mine, each of them has changed very obviously. Some of them didn't dare to sing when they first came, but now they can complete solos; some didn't like to talk when they first came, but now they talk and laugh with us!"
Inspired by Gao Shuzhi, more and more people joined the art troupe. So far, the art troupe has more than 50 members. 58-year-old Liu Xiaoxia is a new friend of the art troupe. When she first came to the art troupe, she was a little nervous and reserved. "I don't know if I can sing well. What if I am not familiar with everyone?" But soon, Liu Xiaoxia completely integrated into this big family. She warmed up her voice and practiced singing with everyone. She was no longer nervous when singing. "It was Gao Tuan's full spirit that touched me. I want to love life like her." Liu Xiaoxia said.
"Although she is 73 years old this year, her mental state and vitality are no less than that of young people." When talking about Gao Shuzhi, the team members all gave her a thumbs up.
Du Ying, 67, is a veteran of the art troupe. She praised Gao Shuzhi highly: "Whether it is daily activities or competitions and performances, Gao is never late or asks for leave. She always appears in front of everyone with a full spirit. You can't tell at all that she is a cancer patient. This optimistic and positive attitude has always infected us."
Delivering warmth through performances
As everyone became more familiar with each other, Gao Shuzhi encouraged the team members to actively show their expertise and led everyone to learn from each other. Soon, under her leadership, the team gradually expanded from the initial chorus to the dance team and model team, and everyone became a generalist. Over the past eight years, from community art activities to the Lanzhou Concert Hall to the Gansu Grand Theater, Gao Shuzhi and the team members have performed on various stages to show their beautiful new life.
During the 2018 Spring Festival, they braved the severe cold to bring cultural performances to the countryside, traveling for six consecutive days in Agan Town, Bali Town, and Xiguoyuan Town in Qilihe District. Despite the biting cold wind, their singing warmed the hearts of the audience. Wang Shuiqing, deputy director of Liujiaying Community, said: "They brought their beautiful singing and healthy and positive attitude towards life to the residents in the area, and wherever they went was full of laughter. Every time they came to our community for rehearsal, they would put the tables and chairs in order and clean up the rehearsal room before leaving. This team is as 'beautiful' as their singing!"
At the same time, Gao Shuzhi also led the team to carry out charity activities to spread warmth. She believes that it is the help of family and friends that has allowed her to regain confidence in life, and she should encourage and help others to spread warmth and hope. In the past eight years, Gao Shuzhi has often led the team to visit the elderly in nursing homes, spend birthdays with the elderly, and go to the homes of lonely elderly people on holidays to make rice dumplings together...
"Chatting with these brothers and sisters about family matters makes them feel less lonely and brings more smiles to their faces. This is a very meaningful thing!" said Gao Shuzhi.
The singing in the activity room continued. Gao Shuzhi led the Sunshine Art Troupe to continue singing about the new life: "I saw a new world, broader and more beautiful..."
