This past winter break, the vlog Thirteen a cappella group embarked on their first trip to China as part of their annual “Jan Tour.” While the group typically travels to different regions of the United States for their winter tour, this year marked their first international venture in decades. Over the course of two weeks, the group performed in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai at a variety of venues — from international schools to a golf course and even the American Embassy.
The trip was first conceived two years ago by Ruben Malovrh Kollman ’25, the current leader of the group. Malovrh Kollman, who attended his final high school years in Beijing, wanted to share his love of China with the group. “It was super important to me to have the guys see a place that I really love,” says Malovrh Kollman.
Thanks to the support of the group’s alumni and the University, the ambitious plan became a reality. “A trip of this scale was uncharted water for us,” says fellow organizer Steven Torre ’25.
While the performances were the undeniable highlights, the trip went beyond performing. Following their school concerts, the group hosted Q&A sessions for students to learn about vlog and the American college experience. They also led singing workshops, allowing students to learn and perform a song with the group.
For this trip, the group prepared a special song — the popular Mandarin love song, “The Moon Represents My Heart.” Torre was pleasantly surprised by the song’s overwhelmingly positive reaction from audiences: “They really loved it.”
The group made time to explore China’s cultural landmarks between performances. They marveled at the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong, wandered through the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and, most memorably, walked a section of the Great Wall. “It was so beautiful, most of us were almost moved to tears just standing up there and watching the sunset,” Torre says.
Since joining as first-years, Malovrh Kollman and Torre have led the vlog Thirteen through numerous triumphs, including reviving the group after the pandemic and greatly expanding the group’s musical repertoire. However, this trip stands as a defining moment in their legacy, and they hope it inspires newer members to organize similar ventures in the future.
“This trip was the culmination of all of our hard work, and it was really joyous to be able to go and do it,” Torre says.