Chinese youth trio wins top prize at 4th Veritas Cup

A talented trio of Chinese youth, Pan Jianyao, Pan Guanying, and Zhang Cenan, claimed the champion title in the 4th Veritas Cup, an international hymn composition competition celebrating a new wave of Chinese Christian music.

The award ceremony took place on November 9 at the Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) auditorium in Quezon City, Philippines.

Pan Jianyao, known for his skills in piano, keyboard, recording, and orchestration, brought a wealth of experience to the competition, having previously performed at the prestigious 33rd Golden Melody Awards.

Pan Guanying, a music student at the Conservatory of Music at Sun Yat-sen University, contributed his formal training and expertise.

Rounding out the team, Zhang Cenan has dedicated many years as a supervisor for the Parish Youth Association and collaborated previously with Pan Guanying in composing the theme song for a children’s summer camp at their parish.

Wang Jun, founder of the Jesus Family youth worship group in the Diocese of Wenzhou, secured second place. A celebrated artist in his own right, his works “Thank You for Your Hug” and “Give You My Love” received accolades in previous Veritas Cup competitions.

Joining Wang Jun in second place was Wang Qiren, director of the parish choir at the Holy Trinity Parish in Taiwan, whose composition also captivated the judges.

Alongside Wang Jun in the second place is composer Wang Qiren, director of the parish choir in the Holy Trinity Parish in Taiwan.

Four recipients were honored with third place:

• Camili Xiao Jiawen, a young composer who won the New Talent Recommendation Award and Independent Music Award in the Malaysian Chinese Music Association Awards in 2012.
• Xiaoya Dubreuil, who has produced more than 100 song lyrics with many excellent sacred music composers.
• Zhang Qingjiang, a parish priest who has been producing a series of “Sunday Hymns” based on the Gospel and personal mediation since 2014.
• Sr. Zhang Cuimiao, a religious sister from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Excellence Awards were also bestowed to the following participants:

• Jin DIanzhe, a songwriter and composer from Leqing Parish, Diocese of Wenzhou who wrote the promotional song for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
• Lv Danyan, a songwriter with the penname “Akatori,” has engaged in parish-wide evangelization through music ministry.
• Liu Xia, an online guitar tutor who won an Excellence Award at the First Veritas Cup Contest for his song “Lord I Worship You.”
• Lin Wenlon, a first-time composer of songs for Sacred Liturgy from the Holy Rosary Parish of the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Gu Xiaobing, a sacred music lover who has produced more than 100 songs with other musicians.
• Ji Shi, a parish priest.
• Yang WangLong, a young musician from the Diocese of Wenzhou.
• Shi Yumin, a Chinese national outstanding lyricist and member of the Shijiazhuang Musicians Association.
• Zhao Yunfei, a member of the Hebei Musicians Association.
• Hong Ruowang, founder of a youth gospel orchestra whose song “Winning All the Way” won the Special Recommendation Award at the 3rd Veritas Cup.
• Liu Xinkai, composer, songwriter, and director of the St. Mary’s Children’s Choir at the Diocese of Karel in Malaysia.
• Li Wenxi, a guitarist and composer of songs for parish pastoral work.

Held every three years, the Veritas Cup showcases the creativity and faith of composers dedicated to enriching Chinese hymnody.

During the awards ceremony, RVA Program Director Fr. Mi Shen shared that the competition started as “a dream for people to be close to the Lord and with one another through sacred music.”

“Each of us is like a musical note in the song of our faith in God. It is only that we join our effort together, journey together in a synodal way, and then we can bear witness to God's beauty and love,” he said.

All submissions for this year’s competition were crafted after 2020.

More than 130 original compositions from Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, France, Malaysia, and Mainland China.

The "Veritas Cup" is a triennial event organized by the Mandarin Service of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a Catholic media platform based in Quezon City, Philippines.

This competition aims to engage the Chinese-speaking community, particularly the youth, in activities that promote faith, culture, and community involvement.