On April 25, the 2026 ANJCS Inter-School Singing Contest was held at Edison Chinese School. This year, five FASCA members volunteered and supported the event behind the scenes. While the contestants were the focus on stage, FASCA members played an important role in ensuring the contest ran smoothly from beginning to end. Before the contest started, members arrived early to help prepare the venue. They moved tables and chairs, helped organize the stage area, hung banners, prepared the host’s scoring equipment, and checked that the setup was ready before guests and contestants arrived.
During the contest, each FASCA member had a different responsibility. Some members helped set up and control the audio equipment, including music playback, volume levels, and microphone sound. Others adjusted the microphone stands for contestants of different ages and heights so each student could perform more comfortably. Some members were assigned to manage the waiting area, where they helped contestants know when to get ready, when to line up, and when to walk on or off the stage. These tasks required attention, patience, and communication because even a small mistake could affect the program's timing. Although many of these jobs were done quietly in the background, they were necessary to keep the event organized.
The contest also welcomed several guests from the community. Director Yi-Ju Wang from the Culture Center of TECO in New York shared that singing is one of the most popular activities among students because music can connect people across languages and cultures. President of ANJCS Nelson Tai also mentioned that the singing contest has been held since 2008, with the goal of giving students another way to learn Chinese through music. Their remarks showed that this event was not only a competition, but also a meaningful way to encourage Chinese language learning and cultural connection.
For FASCA members, this event was also a valuable learning experience. One FASCA member said, “By helping with this event, I was not only supporting the Chinese community, but also learning skills like audio control and event setup that I usually do not get to practice.” Another member shared, “We were like small screws in a machine. Our roles may not seem big, but without them, the whole event could not run as smoothly.” These reflections showed that community service is not only about helping others, but also about learning responsibility and teamwork.
Through this experience, FASCA members learned how much planning and cooperation are needed behind a successful event. A performance does not only depend on the students on stage, but also on the volunteers, teachers, parents, and organizers working together. By helping with the singing contest, FASCA members contributed to the Chinese community, supported young performers, and gained real experience in leadership, communication, and event management.
Reported by Sean Sung
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FASCA adjusting the microphone stands for contestants
Many of these jobs were done quietly in the background
Group picture for all the contestants
FASCA members learned how much planning and cooperation are needed
behind a successful event
Update Date：
2026/04/29 Back
