PAST EVENTS
Chen Yi World Premiere with the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the Cypress String Quartet and Award Winning Film Maker Felicia Lowe
Jun 04, 2010
Join friends of Melody of China, the five-time Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Girls Chorus as they conclude their current season with the world premiere of Angel Island Passages, a multi-media work by composer Chen Yi in collaboration with the Cypress String Quartet and award-winning Bay Area film maker Felicia Lowe, in two performances Friday and Saturday, June 4 and 5, at 8 p.m. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The new work commemorates the 100th anniversary of Angel Island Immigration Station, known as “the Ellis Island of the West,” and evokes the experiences of Chinese immigrants in music, ancient and contemporary poetry, film, video and photography. Also on the program, entitled “A New Land, A New Song,” are works by Stravinsky, Dvořák and others. The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located at 50 Oak Street, San Francisco, 94102. Tickets are priced $18-$32 and are available for purchase by phone at City Box Office, 415-392-4400; online at city box office ; or in person at City Box Office, 180 Redwood Street, Suite 100, San Francisco (Monday – Friday, 9:30a.m.-5p.m.).
Melody of China at the Chinatown Music Festival
May 08, 2010
Melody of China gave a firey performance at the Chinatown Music Festival in San Francisco on May 8th. Yangqin Zhao, Gangqin Zhao, Xian Lu and Wanpeng Guo shared the program with Asian jazz big names Frances Wong and Jon Jang. Also on the bill were local veterans Jest Jammin', Wayne Wallace and Sherlin Chan and the Star Valley Children's choir. Melody of China also gave a special performance with students*. Sponsored by the Chinese Culture Center, the event was a rousing success, taking place outdoors from 12 - 5pm in Portsmouth Square. Please email info@melodyofchina.org for more information on future performances.
*To see a short video of MOC and young students performing on May 8th, click here.
Melody of China at the Phoenix Musical Instrument Museum
Apr 30, 2010
Melody of China performed at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona on April 30th. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), the world's first global instrument museum, opened to the public on April 24th. For more information on the museum, please visit www.themim.org.
Melody of China Workshop and Performance at San Francisco University High School
Mar 26, 2010
Melody of China conducted a workshop and performance at San Francisco University High School March 26, 29, 30, 31 and April 1st. Students learned about the various traditional instruments, including erhu (two-string bowed fiddle), yangqin (hammered dulcimer), guzheng (table harp), sheng (mouth organ) and dizi (bamboo flute). A performance followed the lecture. For more information, please visit www.sfuhs.org.
Melody of China performs in San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
Feb 27, 2010
Melody of China welcomed 2010-the Year of Tiger! MOC performed Saturday, Feb. 27th in the Annual San Francisco Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade. MOC musicians Yangqin Zhao, Gangqin Zhao, Wanpeng Guo, and Xian Lu performed traditional music on the instruments they are famous for. They appeared on the Bank of America float. For more information, please visit: www.chineseparade.com/calendar .
Melody of China Continues After School Music Program
Jan 01, 2010
Melody of China has continued its free after school music class at Sunset Elementary School in San Francisco beginning in January 2010. Thanks to funding from the California Arts Council's Artists in Schools* (AIS) program, this popular class allows children to learn a Chinese instrument, including technique and repertoire. Instruments the children learn include: erhu (two-string bowed fiddle), yangqin (hammered dulcimer), guzheng (zither), ruan (moon guitar), dizi (bamboo flute) and paigu (Chinese drums). Students learn to play both American and Chinese traditional folk songs.
To learn more about the program, email Yangqin Zhao at: info@melodyofchina.org.
*This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Melody of China and Lily Cai Dance at Fort Mason
Dec 10, 2009
Melody of China partnered with Lily Cai Dance Company to present a special concert at Henry Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on December 10th, 2009. The concert featured new music by Gang Situ with new choreography by Lily Cai. The theme of the concert was Yin and Yang and the harmony of opposing forces. Melody of China artists played the traditional Chinese instruments they are famous for, while Lily Cai Dancers gave visual expression to the music that captured the imagination of an enthusiastic audience.
For more information, contact the Fort Mason Center at 415-345-7575 or visit www.fortmason.org/boxoffice.
Melody of China Performs at Swarthmore College
Oct 23, 2009
The Chinese chamber ensemble gave a special performance at Swarthmore College on October 23rd, 2009. Funded by a grant from the Cooper Foundation, the group presented traditional repertoire featuring their fascinating instruments, including erhu (2-string bowed fiddle), yangqin, guzheng (table zither), sheng, dizi and others. The ensemble also conducted a lecture and demonstration on their instruments for music students at the college. The artists discussed each instruments history, cultural significance, range and techniques, as well as basic principles of Chinese music theory. The concert was free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Swarthmore College at (610) 328-8001 or check the Swarthmore College website at www.swarthmore.edu.
To view a video clip of MOC at Swarthmore, click here.
Photo by Brendan Work (link).
Melody of China Showcase Performance at WAA 2009
Sep 02, 2009
Melody of China performed a special showcase mini-concert at the Sheraton Hotel in Pheonix, AZ on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd, 2009 at 8:30pm in the South Mountain Room. The performance was part of the annual WAA conference where top artists, managers and presenters converged to share work and connect. The group performed a set of exciting and colorful repertoire. Instruments included: Yangqin (hammered dulcimer), Guzheng (zither), Sheng (mouth organ), and Dizi (bamboo flute). Infectious rhythm and sublime melody captured the imagination of an enthusiastic audience. They scheduled just one show, so we hope you were able to enjoy this rare treat! Melody of China Director, Yangqin Zhao, was at the Eye for Talent booth (#1018) on the day following the performance.
Melody of China Performs at National Folk Festival
Jul 11, 2009
Select members of the group performed at the National Folk Festival in Butte, Montana on July 11th, 2009. Instrumentalists included Yangqin Zhao on yangqin (hammered dulcimer), Wanpeng Guo on sheng (mouth organ), Xian Lu on dizi (bamboo flutes) with a special guest appearance by Li Bo on matouqin, or Mongolian Horse-head fiddle, a bowed instrument similar in timbre to the erhu but with a lower range. The group was also joined by Chinese dance artist Xiao Pei who specializes in traditional Chinese folk dance. This year's performance at the National Folk Festival was Melody of China's fifth since the group was formed back in 1993. Other types of music represented at the Festival included American Folk, Bluegrass, Blues as well as traditional music of other ethnicities.
To find out more about the festival, go to www.nationalfolkfestival.com or call (406) 497-6464.
Melody of China Performs at Switchboard Festival
Mar 29, 2009
Yangqin Zhao, Gangqin Zhao and Thomas Lee performed at the annual Switchboard Festival of new music in San Francisco on March 29th, 2009. For a packed audience at the cozy Dance Missions Theatre, Yangqin Zhao performed on yangqin (hammered dulcimer), Gangqin Zhao played guzheng (table zither) and Mr. Lee played the gaohu, an instrument similar to the erhu but with a higher tone. The Chinese trio performed a traditional piece as well as a new work composed in a tradtional style. The artists certainly stood out with their instruments at the emerging, grassroots festival. Other performers at the festival included Pamela Z and the Paul Drescher Ensemble. The Festival was organized by Jeff Anderle, Ryan Brown and Jonathan Russell.
For more information on the 2009 line-up or to find out about plans for next year's event, go to www.switchboardmusic.com.
Melody of China Performs at Davies Hall
Feb 08, 2009
As part of the annual Chinese New Year Celebration, Melody of China performed to an enthusiastic crowd at Davies Hall back-to-back with the San Francisco Symphony on February 8th. Ushering in 2009, the Year of the Ox, the Chinese quintet played several traditional selections along with a new work entitled Reed Flowers by composer-in-residence Dawei Wang. Musicians included Hong Wang on erhu (2-string bowed fiddle), Yangqin Zhao on yangqin (hammered dulcimer), Gangqin Zhao on guzheng (table zither), Xian Lu on dizi (bamboo flute) and Wanpeng Guo on sheng (mouth organ). Other pieces on the program included the premiere of a new work by composer Gang Situ for orchestra and children's chorus entitled Mo-li Hua (Jasmine Flower). The program also included a special performance by guest violinist Siqing Lu performing The Butterfly Lovers Concerto by Gang Chen and Zhan-hao He. In addition to musical performances, the festivities also included traditional dance, including the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance as well as food, crafts and games for the entire family.
For information on the annual celebration, please see the San Francisco Chinatown Chamber of Commerce website: www.sanfranciscochinatown.com.