- March 25, 2026
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When Lijing Cui retired, she wanted to find a "second home" where she would find peace in terms of her mental health along with a sense of community.
The second home wasn't an actual home at all, but a club she helped start called the Silverwings Choir, a group of 40 members who gather to sing in Mandarin.
“Music carries love and hope, and it gives me a great emotional feeling,” Cui said. “In all music, everyone speaks the same language in a way. That's why I'm very passionate.”
As a founding member, Cui said the reason Silverwings started was to promote Chinese culture. Now she is glad the club has developed.
The club began in October and most members are native to China and between the ages of 50 and 70.
Lakewood Ranch’s Min Yu is the head of the Silverwings Choir. She joined with no prior singing experience and said she is on the lower level of the group in terms of singing ability. Even so, she said she is eager to improve. She enjoyed the club so much that she agreed to lead the choir.
“Everybody is so enthusiastic,” said Yu, who said she often sees members who find a way to get to a meeting despite difficulties such as their car breaking down. They don't want to miss because the meetings give them a sense of belonging.
Nokomis’ Lili Hao was excited when she heard about the club because she hasn't been around such a large group of Chinese natives since she left the country 30 years ago.
“We all enjoy singing,” Hao said. “We don't ask ‘What's your profession? Which city are you originally from?’ We just get together and sing.”
Hao, who has had eye surgery and who can't drive long distances, is especially grateful for club members who have been willing to pick her up in Nokomis and bring her to Saturday meetings in Lakewood Ranch.
Barbara Rothman, who is not of Chinese descent, has learned to play piano for the choir. She said sheet music she uses with the club is different that what she normally reads, which is treble clef. She said numbers 1-7 represent notes in Chinese music.
"You kind of have to translate from the notes and the numbers," Rothman said. "I guess in a way, it's easier to learn music because they don't have to learn notes. They don't have to learn the five lines of a staff, just numbers.”
Rothman has accompanied various choirs and said she has never seen such a wide range of vocal experience in one group.
“There are people who sound like they never tried to sing before,” Rothman said. “They maybe thought they might like to, but they never did. Then we people who have been singing for 10 or 12 years who are talented and experienced.”
“It's multicultural, and eventually we're going to sing both Chinese and English songs,” Yu said of the club members. “Everyone is welcome.”
Lakewood Ranch’s Hua Wang moved from Boston in September and had no prior experience singing. She loves to listen to music and go to concerts but never had time to explore singing. With the club, she learns more about music in each sessions, but that’s not what is important to her.
“This is not a simple club,” Wang said. “It's kind of like a whole Chinese society. Here in the club, we’re like a family. Everybody shares great news and the great experience and we can build a hobby.”
Lakeland’s Shudong Braamse came to Silverwings Choir as a guest teacher. She was born and raised in China and furthered her study of music in the U.S. She teaches full time at Southeastern University in Lakeland.
“I make my students feel comfortable when they step into my studio, that matters the most,” Braamse said. “I don't want them to feel tight or nervous. I want them to enjoy it first.”
She said the group seems determined to better their singing ability no matter what their current capabilities are. A few of the things she focuses on helping them improve are technique, reading, projection, expression and diction.
“I encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, because if they always hide in the comfort zone, it's hard to grow,” Braamse said. “I encourage them to step out and stretch vocally. They're already good and they have passion. Passion matters.”
