Spring Choir Introduction
Spring Choir, under Spring Music Academy and supported by Spring Music Academy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is one of the leading youth and adult choral organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded and directed by conductor and music educator Wenbo Deng, the choir is dedicated to high-level choral training, artistic excellence, community service, and international cultural exchange. Its children's, women's, and mixed choirs have served nearly 1,000 singers and students over the years.
Spring Choir has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, appearing at major concerts, international festivals, professional sporting events, and choral competitions. Recent highlights include:
2024 — Spain: Spring Women's Choir received a Gold Award at the Sing for Gold – World Choral Cup in Spain.
2025 — Denmark: At the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations, Spring Choir earned Double Gold Awards and advanced to the Grand Prix, where it received Third Place.
2026 — Budapest: At Laurea Mundi Budapest, Spring Choir received a Gold Award and Category Championship in the Open Competition and advanced to the Grand Prix. In the Grand Prix competition, the choir earned Laurea Summa Cum Laude honors and received Second Place in both the Folklore Grand Prix and the Children's Choir Grand Prix.
2026 — California: At the MTAC VOCE California State Finals, two Spring Choir ensembles each earned First Place and were subsequently invited to perform at the MTAC State Champion Concert in Los Angeles.
2027 — ACDA National Conference: Spring Children's Choir has been selected as a Performing Choir for the 2027 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference in Minneapolis. It is the only choir from the state of California selected to perform at the 2027 National Conference, representing California on one of the nation's most important professional choral stages before conductors, educators, composers, and choral professionals from across the United States and beyond.
In addition to these milestones, Spring Choir has earned First Place Awards at the United States International Music Competition (USIMC) for nine consecutive years and has been invited twice to participate in the Idaho International Choral Festival.
Beyond its ensemble achievements, Spring Music Academy has nurtured numerous outstanding young soloists and instrumentalists, with students earning more than 200 awards and honors across vocal, instrumental, and ensemble competitions. Several students have also been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, reflecting the academy's commitment to developing individual artistry alongside collaborative musicianship.
Beyond competitions and festivals, Spring Choir has established a strong presence in the cultural life of the San Francisco Bay Area. The choir has been invited to perform at Stanford University for four consecutive years, present full-length concerts at the Pleasanton Library and Cupertino Library, and participate in cultural and community events throughout the region. Other notable appearances include Stanford Memorial Church, San Francisco City Hall, and an invitation to perform the U.S. National Anthem at a WNBA game before nearly 18,000 spectators.
Community service and cultural outreach are central to Spring Choir's mission. Through volunteer performances, community concerts, and collaborations with local organizations, singers share the joy of music with audiences of different ages and backgrounds. The choir actively participates in Chinese New Year celebrations, multicultural festivals, and community service events, helping preserve and promote Chinese musical traditions while fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
As part of its commitment to community engagement and public service, Spring Choir seeks to make high-quality choral music accessible beyond traditional concert halls. Through educational outreach, public performances, and volunteer activities, the organization encourages young singers to use their musical talents to serve their communities, develop a sense of social responsibility, and experience the power of music to bring people together.
Artistically, Spring Choir embraces a diverse repertoire ranging from classical and contemporary choral works to folk music, musical theater, and multicultural compositions, with a particular dedication to introducing Chinese choral music and cultural heritage to international audiences. Through rigorous training, artistic collaboration, and meaningful performance experiences, singers develop musicianship, confidence, discipline, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Spring Choir — Connecting Voices, Cultures, and Communities Through Music.
WENBO DENG
Wenbo Deng is the founder, the conductor and artistic director of Spring Music Academy in San Francisco Bay Area, California.
He previously held faculty positions in Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Shanghai Student Performing Arts Troupe. He conducted numerous choral concerts across Continents of Europe, Australia, North America and Asia in the last decade. In the 8th World Choir Games held in Riga, Latvia in 2014, The Spring Children’s Chorus from Shanghai, China led by Wenbo Deng won the Gold Medal First Prize for the ‘Children’s Choirs’ group and Third Prize for religious group at the Champions Competition.
He co-authored many choral textbooks and choral songbooks. Dozens of choral songs conducted by him were made to CD records. The well-known choir conductor Katalin Kortvesi of Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music of Hungary praised him ‘as a very comprehensive and brilliant young conductor with full potential’. Wenbo Deng graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music with a Master degree of choral conducting. He is a member of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association).
HELEN CUI
Helen Cui is the founder, the executive director, and voice coach of Spring Music Academy in San Francisco Bay Area, California.
She has profound teaching experience in vocal and piano for over a decade. Her students won many awards in a variety of Shanghai and National music contests. She was the judge of ‘2016 United State International Music Competition’. She used to be an editor in Shanghai Music publishing House, where she completed many key projects of national level piano and vocal textbook publications. She had a master degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Hyun Joo Chung
Pianist Hyun Joo Chung has been playing piano since she was five years old. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, her Master of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music at Case Western University, and holds a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. She has worked with such renown pianists as Claude Frank, Paul Schenly, and Boris Slutsky, as well as the composer and contemporary music specialist, David Burge. Hyun Joo Chung has performed across the United States and Asia, most notably in Seoul, Korea and Hong Kong, which included broadcast performances on WCLV.
Nathasya
Nathasya is an Indonesian raised pianist who received her B.M in Piano Performance from UCSI University, under the tutelage of Chee Su Yan and minored in Classical Voice under the coaching of Seow Chee Chuan. Through her studies, she found her passion in the concept of Kodaly Method and participated in numerous seminar and workshops in Kuala Lumpur elaborating in Kodaly Method and Piano Pedagogy.
Haiming - Zixue Wu, Soprano
Haiming got her Bachelor of Music,Vocal Performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Master of Music, Vocal Arts & Opera from University of Southern California, Thornton School. She has acted in many operas as leading roles such as Lucia in "Lucia di Lammermoor". She has more than 8 years teaching experience.
AMY HUANG
Amy Huang graduated from National Taiwan Normal University, majoring piano, under the tutorship of many famous pianists in Taiwan. Amy taught Guangren Catholic Elementary (Music magnet) School and Taipei Fuxing high school before moving to the Bay Area. Currently Amy is a piano instructor and professional accompanist.
Frank Zhou
Frank Zhou is the accompanist of Spring Children’s Choir. He studied music in early age in Shanghai and US. Graduated from Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri with a M. A.
