(Minghui.org) The Tian Guo Marching Band participated in the 28th Chiayi City International Band Festival on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Around 50 other bands also participated in the annual event, including from Japan, France, Germany, Belgium, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

This is the ninth time that Falun Dafa practitioners have been invited to bring the Tian Guo Marching Band to the festival. This year, the event started on December 20 and will finish on January 1, 2020. More than 80 concerts are scheduled during this time, and the audience is expected to be in the hundreds of thousands.

The Tian Guo Marching Band at the 28th Chiayi City International Band Festival on December 21, 2019

“The Most Magnificent Band”

Starting from the landmark Fountain Circle on Zhongshan Road, the two-mile parade went through the city's business district and ended at Chiayi Stadium. The Tian Guo Marching Band began by playing “Falun Dafa Is Good,” followed by “Triumphant Return,” “Sacred Song,” and other melodies. Besides holiday music and “Joy to the World,” the band also performed “Gao Shan Qing,” or Green High Mountain, a Taiwanese folk song. Their music drew warm applause everywhere they went.

Taiwan's Tian Guo Marching Band has about 200 members, and their uniforms resemble clothes of the Tang and Song Dynasties in ancient China. The bright colors and the resounding melodies were praised by spectators. “This is the most magnificent band,” one pedestrian remarked as he gave a thumbs-up.

All of the band’s members are Falun Dafa practitioners. The band's director said that they were happy to celebrate with the community and share the spirit of the principles of Falun Dafa, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

Waiting for This Band Every Year

Two alumni of Li Ren High School said they liked the Tian Guo Marching Band's performance.

Two alumni of Li Ren High School in Chiayi said they had seen the Tian Guo Marching Band perform at their school. They were impressed by the elegant costumes, energetic musicians, and beautiful music. They said that they could feel the kindness and compassion in the melodies.

Another parade spectator, Ms. Zhou, had heard about Falun Dafa before. She highlighted the band’s uniqueness and added, “Their music is very touching, and I really admire their contributions to society.”

Mr. and Mrs. Zhang were attending the band festival for the first time, and they were captivated by the Tian Guo Marching Band's costumes. “They look very traditional,” Mr. Zhang said. “The music is very soothing, especially ‘Gao Shan Qing,’ which touches your heart. I will watch it again next year.”

Ms. Huang, a retired government employee, also expressed excitement about the band's music. “The marching is excellent, and every band member looks awesome. I think the music is also better year after year. I really enjoy it, and I was almost moved to tears,” she said.

Mr. Liu from a rotary club in northern Taiwan was in Chiayi visiting relatives. He knew about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and said everyone should have freedom of belief. “I admire the courage and determination of Falun Dafa practitioners,” he said.

Mr. Huang from Chiayi is a professional photographer who specializes in the culture and history of Taiwan. As he recorded video of the band, he noticed that its members coordinated well with each other.

“Every one of them is very talented, and the music is superb,” he commented. “I can imagine the hard work behind it, and it requires everyone to do their best with their hearts.”

Retiree Mr. Zheng said he was inspired by the band’s performance. “I wait for this every year–it is the best.”

Band Member: Gift from Heaven

Members of the Tian Guo Marching Band come from various professional backgrounds. Mr. Hu, a sousaphone player, is a government employee from Taipei. He said that although he had always considered himself a good person, he gained new understandings after becoming a Falun Dafa practitioner in 2004.

“In the past I often thought others were wrong and I was right. Falun Dafa's principles teaches us to look within and examine ourselves. I can now find places where I was indeed wrong,” he said.

He also gave some examples of how he has become more considerate of others. He said that he used to notice that taxi drivers would sometimes intentionally take a longer route, and it would upset him. “I now think that the driver may not have enough income and needs more money to make ends meet,” he explained. He is now no longer disappointed if this happens and sometimes gives the driver a larger tip.

Mr. Hu has participated in the festival for nine years and said he found the Chiayi residents to be very nice and that their warm applause motivated him to do his best.

“Music is a gift for us from heaven. I am so happy to share it with the community today, along with the goodness of Falun Dafa,” he said.

Ms. Fu from Keelung plays a trumpet in the band. She is an accountant at a financial firm and has practiced Falun Dafa for more than 10 years. Her husband is also a practitioner. She said they often remind each other to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “I am very grateful for that,” she added.

After spending a great deal of time and effort to improve her musicianship, she now has a better understanding of the music and feels a connection with spectators.

“It's very hot today, and some people even used fans to help cool us down and gave us thumbs-up,” she said. “This is very encouraging for us band members. We feel it's crucial to bring the best performance and positive energy to people.”

Ms. Liao held the banner at the front of the Tian Guo Marching Band this year. It was her first time in this parade. She lives in Taichung and has practiced Falun Dafa since 2013. She said that while cooperating with the three other practitioners to hold the large banner, she felt it was important to stay upright and be well-coordinated. “Only with a pure mind can we bring the message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to people and help them find hope,” she said.