Piedmont Children's Choir Brings Back Acclaimed 'Echoes of Eureka' Opera

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Following its 2025 world premiere, the Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir (PEBCC) will bring back 'Echoes of Eureka,' a landmark choral opera by internationally acclaimed Artistic Director Eric Tuan, for a limited series of 2026 performances — highlighted by a major April 18 media and community event in Oakland.

Why it matters

The opera 'Echoes of Eureka' illuminates the injustice endured by Chinese immigrants in 1880s California and the extraordinary resilience that followed, including early legal battles that helped shape U.S. civil rights history. The work invites audiences into a deeply reflective space, exploring themes of belonging, solidarity and the ongoing struggle for inclusion.

The details

Originally debuting at PEBCC's annual 'Making History' concert, 'Echoes of Eureka' is said to have left audiences profoundly moved, earning a sustained standing ovation and widespread critical praise for its emotional depth, artistic ambition and historical resonance. Tuan — recognized for his synthesis of music, narrative and social inquiry — has crafted a seven-movement work that redefines the possibilities of contemporary choral storytelling. The opera traces the story of 'Charley' Wei Lum, a young Chinese immigrant in 1880s California, whose community in Eureka was violently expelled amid rising anti-Chinese sentiment.

• The PEBCC will perform 'Echoes of Eureka' at 4 p.m. April 18 in the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.
• The PEBCC will perform 'Echoes of Eureka' at 4 p.m. Sunday in Los Altos in Christ Episcopal Church.

What’s next

The PEBCC looks toward the future appearance of 'Echoes of Eureka' at the upcoming Golden Gate International Choral Festival in July, placing the opera within a broader calendar of significant international arts programming.