This thesis examines the rehearsal and interpretation of contemporary Chinese choral works. It unveils the motivations behind Chinese young conductors' selection of Chinese choral pieces and investigates the common challenges encountered during the rehearsals of contemporary Chinese choral music, as well as how conductors can rehearse these pieces more effectively.

Utilising surveys and sample pieces provided by numerous young Chinese choral conductors, participants responded to two research inquiries based on the samples: 1) The choice of pieces and their reasons for selection. 2) The challenges presented in rehearsal and performance of these pieces. Data collection methods included thematic analysis and categorisation of the feedback from survey questionnaires, explored within a thematic research methodological framework.

The study reveals that Chinese conductors select their repertoire of contemporary Chinese choral works, thinking about the lyrics, traditional culture, musical qualities, and performance challenges. The challenges faced and potentially developed or further improved within the rehearsal environment include the challenges of rehearsal, ensemble, singing ability, conducting, piano accompaniment, rhythm, language, voice connection, and dynamics. To address these, a representative selection of sample pieces was chosen for action research with choirs in New Zealand and China, providing specific and effective rehearsal techniques through frequent observation and comparison of rehearsal outcomes before and after.

The findings of this thesis contribute to the exploration of contemporary Chinese choral music, especially by providing experiences and academic literature for contemporary Western and Chinese conductors to understand Chinese contemporary choral works and rehearsal techniques. Offering further insights into contemporary Chinese choral music facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of this art form in China and reveals its multifaceted nature. This thesis also provides a comprehensive literature review that contributes to the practice and future research of Chinese choral music.