To begin celebrating Chirstmas in Changchun,on the 17th of December 2011, our community had a great opportunity to witness a splenderous series of performances by musicians from all over the world, all of them living here in Changchun "the sunshine capital of China".

This event included sacred music, choral performances, poetry, spanish guitar, traditonal Christmas carols and a Jingle Bells finale sang in many languages.

The list of participants and acts included:

1. Choir - Laudamus Te – Empire of the Sun

2. Choir – Have Yourself a Merry Christmas Medley

3. Downtown David - Yes, Virginia, There’s a Santa Claus

4. Women's Group – Mai Tang Yuan - Ryan, Eleni, Marcella, Christie, Leighton, Alex, Allen, David Puckett

5. Men’s Group – Boar’s Head – Leighton, Alex, Allen, David

6. Rob – Hallelujah

7. Richard Roman – Return of the Magi 

8. Vacha and Sergey – two guitar pieces

9. Steve Mellow  - Pierpont was a failure 

10. Choir –    Carol of the Bells, a cappella

11. Javier and Pepe – Spanish Christmas 

12. European Medley –a. Choir -Fum Fum Fumb. Choir -Lo How a Rose Is Bloomingc. Solo, Marcella - O Holy Night

13. Richard Ridealgh - Third Reading 

14. Leighton and David – piano duet

15. Sventa - Guitar soloist  

16. Choir – Jingle Bells, piano

17. Jingle Bells in several languages

                                                                                                                                                                    

This event was organised by David Puckett, a very well known character in town -we at CCLIVE are awaiting for him to be one of our Changchun characters, and why not, one of our most celebrated Changchun Curmudgeons-.

Besides his musical activities and artistic interests David has a strong drive to education.

"Music is very important in my life from the time when my mother began teaching me piano at age of five". David expressed.

Below there is a -brief- profile of David Puckett.

"I graduated in 1977 with a B.A. in music and have taken many graduate level courses in conducting, organ, choral techniques and music education. In addition to experiences gained as a participant and leader in concerts, church ministry and community events, my interests also include theater and education.  

Acting on stage throughout my life has been one of my greatest enjoyments. When the Women’s Federation of China in Changchun, Jilin asked me to assist them in opening an English language school, I jumped at the request and have enjoyed great success in building a school from scratch.  Along with my responsibilities as Headmaster of Bai Da Wei English School (www.baidawei.com) I was an active performer and director on Chinese national television winning several awards for performing in Chinese.  

Here is a list of career and performance highlights:
Music- Conductor: Requiems by Verdi, Brahms, Faure, Durafle, Ninth Symphony by Beethoven, Messiah by Handel, Mass in b minor by Bach, War Requiem by Britton, Vespers by Rachmaninov, Little Mass by Mozart, Naked Man with Maya Angelou- Soloist: Messiah by Handel, Requiem by Faure and Mozart-

Television: National Competition for Foreigners in China, gold medalists 2002, Tong Yi Shou Ge, number one variety show in China 2007, Good Morning Show Atlanta GA 1995-1998- Church and Community Chorus Director: concerts throughout the US, Europe and Asia.

Theater- Musicals: Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly, Man of la Mancha, Edwin Drood, Oliver, Annie, Gypsy, Chorus Line, West Side Story- Operas and Operettas: Carmen, Pirates of Penzance, Gondoliers- Straight Plays: Charlie’s Aunt, The Importance of Being Earnest, Private Lives, The Crucible.

Youth and Children ActivitiesOrganized and supervised countless choir concert trips, extended field trips, choir camps, musicals, street fairs and festivals while serving as Organist Choir Director in churches and as Headmaster of Bai Da Wei English School in China. 

ESL
I served as Headmaster of a very successful language school in northeast China for over eleven years.  I am the author of English textbooks for Chinese Children and lecturer at several universities throughout China regarding current trends in language acquisition and methodologies."

This event was kindly hosted at the Happy Home Bar