Carleton’s renowned Chinese Music Ensemble will present a special concert Friday, May 19 at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall. Joined by special guest artist and Syrian Oud master Issam Rafea—along with members of the Carleton Global Music, Korean Drum, and Tang Song Chamber Music Ensembles—the program will feature selections of ancient, traditional, and modern Chinese music, Syrian music, and Irish music. This event is free and open to the public.
Under the direction of world-class Pipa artist, Gao Hong, the Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble has performed to much acclaim at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Mall of America, the University of Minnesota, and at numerous conferences and Chinese celebrations through the region.
Student musicians include:
Chinese Music Ensemble: Yijin Wang ’18 (China) on Dizi; Benjamin Lee (Rochester High School), Xiaomin Wu (staff), Arthur Zhang ’20 (China), and Huahua Zhong ’19 (China) on Erhu; Lydia Ding ’17 (Rochester, Mich.), Amanda Jin ’18 (China), and Ruyi Shen ’17 (China) on Pipa; Serafina Chen ’20 (China), Haoyi Wang ’20 (China), and Vicky Wu ’17 (Northfield) on Guzheng; Amber Zhang ’20 (China) on Yangqin; Gege Zhang ’19 (China) on Guqin; Jin Lee ’17 (Republic of Korea) and Yang Chen ’17 (Denton, Texas) on Violin; Emma Grisanzio ’17 (Carol Stream, Ill.) on Cello; and Ian Seong ’19 (New Zealand) on Piano.
Korean Drum Ensemble: Jin Lee ’17, Nayon Park ’17 (Republic of Korea), Ji Young Lee ’19 (Republic of Korea), Joshua Song ’19 (Republic of Korea), Jin Kim ’20 (Singapore), and Daniel Kim ’20 (Republic of Korea).
Tang Song Music Ensemble: Gus Holley ’20 (Moorhead, Minn.) on Zhongruan, Yue Wu ’19 (China) on Yunluo and vocals, Gege Zhang ’19 on Guqin, Kitty Miao ’19 (China) on Xiao, and Amanda Jin ’18 on Pipa and vocals.
Global Music Chamber Ensemble: Molly Hildreth ’17 (Atlanta) on Flute, Jin Lee ’17 on Violin, Graham Hanchet ’20 (Chappaqua, NY) on Clarinet, Emma Grisanzio ’17 on Cello, Ian Seong ’19 on Piano, Benjamin Lee on Erhu, Gus Holley ’20 on Zhongruan, and Vicky Wu ’17 on Guzheng.
Ensemble director Gao Hong is a renowned Chinese pipa player and composer, who graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing where she studied with pipa master Lin Shicheng. She has received numerous awards and honors at home and abroad. In 2005 Gao Hong became the first traditional musician to be awarded the prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship, and in 2012 she became the only musician in any genre to win four McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians. She has received numerous commissions and has performed countless U.S. and world premieres of pipa concerti with organizations such as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Heidelberg Philharmonic, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, and many others. She is also guest professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. More about Gao Hong can be found online at www.chinesepipa.com.
This event is sponsored by the Carleton College Department of Music. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4347. The Concert Hall is located on First Street, between Nevada and Winona Streets, in Northfield.
