Chinese American Adolescent Identity in a Children’s Choir: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Abstract This exploratory case study examined ways that participation in a children’s choir singing repertoire from both Western and Eastern countries of the world molds the cultural identity of Chinese American adolescents. The primary question guiding the inquiry was: How do Chinese American adolescents describe the experience of singing in a children’s choir on their emerging cultural identity? Data collection included 12 hours of observations over the course of 5 weeks and interviews with 5 Chinese American students, the director, and the founding director of the children’s choir. Findings suggested creating a positive Chinese American community in this choir helped build, maintain, and develop cultural identity, although in different ways unique to the individual. Aspects of this community included usage of heritage language, singing Chinese folksongs to create multigenerational connections, forming Chinese American friendships to navigate cultural identity, and having teachers as culture bearers. However, cultural identity creation was unique to the individual. Cultural identity formation was flexible and nonlinear, emphasizing caution against overgeneralizing the Chinese American youth population.