Editor’s Note :
As the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association and Irvine Chinese School near their 50th anniversary, a special editorial team is collecting reflections from former presidents and principals to preserve this half-century journey.
Cultural Express launches the “Brilliant Fifty” series, featuring selected essays that illuminate the people and stories that shaped our community.
The Irvine Chinese School is dedicated to more than just language education; its annual Lunar New Year Gala has become a signature cultural event.
Through these performances, students showcase their language skills and cultural heritage, as well as introduce Chinese culture to the mainstream community.
The Journey Begins in the Control Room
In the early days, Lunar New Year celebrations were held in school auditoriums.
Everything was done by parents, including costumes and headdresses of the performers, from design to pattern making, cutting and sewing.
A major turning point came in 1992, the Lunar New Year Celebration Performance was held in the newly constructed Irvine Barclay Theatre through the coordination of former Principal Terry Lee.
A bilingual volunteer was needed to work with the technicians as requested by the Barclay Theatre to ensure the show ran smoothly.
Since both of my daughters chose folk dance as their extracurricular activity, which would normally be included in the show, I began volunteering in the theater’s control room in the early 1990s.
This opened the door to a lifelong bond with the performing arts for me. As the saying goes, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
The technical knowledge I gained in the control room inspired a deep interest in production and broadened my understanding of the performing arts.
My Future is Not a Dream
When the school moved to its own cultural center in 2004, the performances continued at the Barclay Theatre under Tim Cheng's coordination.
At this point, I transitioned from the control room to Stage Manager.
In 2010, Rachel Wang joined the staff and led the Activity Team; together, we produced several good shows.
For the Year of the Tiger (2010), we presented "One Earth," a four-act production covering Origin, Diversity, Sustainability, and Integration.
To create a more cohesive flow, I asked the emcees to act as narrators connecting the acts, rather than simply delivering separate speeches.
They were expertly coached by former Principal Anne Hwu.
2012 was the Year of the Dragon, we returned to the Barclay Theatre after a one-year break.
With the theme "Descendants of the Dragon," we used Chinese calligraphy as our backdrop, which was written by calligraphy Master Oliver Lin.
We also introduced the media at the backdrop to illustrate the story of Mulan, the skit was directed by teacher Leah Huang who also provided the video.
With the professional equipment at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, we were able to present an old Chinese story with a modern visual effect.
2012 ICS Lunar New Year Gala with the theme "Descendants of the Dragon"
The Executive Director of SCCCA, Yulan Chung, started serving as Principal in the 2012-2013 school year. It was the final year at the school for Jarit Unrau, who had started as a junior emcee at a very young age and consistently excelled in many New Year performances.
His upcoming graduation inspired me to create something special, which led to “My Future is Not a Dream”, the grand finale of the 2013 Lunar New Year Gala.
The grand finale of the 2013 Lunar New Year Gala “My Future is Not a Dream”
In addition to Jarit, this musical piece featured six other singing competition winners and five senior dancers, with choreography directed by Ivy Chen.
Jarit’s opening monologue, combined with the talent of every singer and dancer, made it an unforgettable show.
That was also the final year the Irvine Chinese School held its New Year celebration at the Barclay Theatre.
Shortly after, I moved to the East Coast, marking the end of my journey with the school.
Tribute to Those Behind the Curtain
The Irvine Chinese School is famous for its dedicated parents and volunteers.
All events, including the Lunar New Year Gala, could not be completed successfully without the efforts from the parents and volunteers.
Each show was powered by an army of volunteers behind the scenes.
Parents stood in the wings, carefully directing performers as they entered and exited the stage.
The stage crew remained stationed on both sides, promptly changing sets to keep the production moving.
Meanwhile, following the program order, runners navigated the backstage hallways to ensure the next group of performers was on standby.
This was a testament to the dedication of everyone involved.
In some years the number of performers exceeded 200, the backstage was crowded with students, teachers, parents, and staff.
The Backstage Manager held the toughest job: coordinating with all performers and volunteers, managing check-ins and assigning dressing rooms, and ordering food and water and many other tedious details.
Seeing such a massive operation run seamlessly was always incredible. While the students receive applause in the spotlight, the success of every performance belongs to these tireless volunteers working behind the curtain.
Every step taken in life leaves a mark. For me, the Irvine Chinese School was not only the place where my daughters learned the Chinese language and culture but also where I discovered the profound joy of service.
The nearly twenty years I spent volunteering for the Lunar New Year Gala, along with my two-year contribution to the design and construction of the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center (2002–2004), have left an eternal mark on my heart. （Brilliant Fifty XXVIIII ）
Read More：
Half a Century of Commitment and Achievement Karen Kuo-Limb (SCCCA Former Board Chair 2017-18)
Reflections Inspired by a Video Vivien Kao (SCCCA Former Board Chair 2011-2012)
The Transformation & Growth of SCCCA Andrew Yen ( SCCCA Former Board Chair 2007-2009, 2010-2011)
Thirty Years at ICS Memories Still Vivid Shi-yun Chung (Former ICS Principal, 1998–2000)
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary Joan Chien (SCCCA Former Board Chair 1996-98 ）
Building on the Past Opening a New Chapter Peter Liu ( ICS Former Principal 1995-96)
Some Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of ICS. Bin Yang ( ICS Former Principal 1992-94 )
Looking Back on My Year as ICS Principal. Ping Deng Yow ( ICS Former Principal 1988-89 )
An Affinity for the Irvine Chinese School. Ann Hwu ( ICS Former Principal 1987-88)
Building Bridges Across Generations and Cultures. Susie Chu ( SCCCA Board Chair 1988-89)
From Parent to Principal : My ICS Story. Hedy Ho（ Former ICS Principal 1986-87 )
United We Strive · United We Rise. Don Niu ( Former SCCCA board chair 1986-87 )
ICS Memories That Still Shine. Phen Cheng (1984-85 ICS Principal)
Reflections of a School Janitor. JJ Lee (SCCCA Board Chair 1979-1980 )
A Journey from One Dream to a Community Legacy Mitzi Fu (1976-82, 1983-84 ICS Founding Principal)