PAST EVENTS
Melody of China Continues After School Music Program
Jan 05, 2012
Melody of China is continuing their after school music program at Sunset Elementary School in San Francisco. The class instructs students, grades 2 - 5, to learn a Chinese instrument of their choice, including erhu, yangqin, guzheng, dizi, ruan and others. Funded by the California Arts Council's Artists in Schools program, the popular class is in its 6th year. View supporters of this and other Melody of China programs here.
Melody of China Concert: Legacy of the Qin
Dec 10, 2011
Join us for a special concert celebrating the legacy of the Qin, the ancient seven-string zither, presented by the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and Melody of China. Performances by the Melody of China chamber ensemble with guests Qin virtuoso Liu Li and Chinese flute soloist Chen Tao will capture your imagination and stir your soul. The program will feature the world premiere of a new work by renowned composer Gang Situ. The concert begins at 2:30pm with pre-concert talks at 2pm in the auditorium of the Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearney Street (inside the Hilton Financial District San Francisco) 3rd Floor, San Francisco. Purchase tickets here: http://ccc2011winterconcert.eventbrite.com/. For more information about the Chinese Culture Center and this event, please visit the Culture Center's website: http://www.c-c-c.org/.
Music at Noon, Santa Clara University
Oct 12, 2011
Melody of China will be performing at the "Music at Noon" series at Santa Clara University on October 12th. The performance, which features traditional repertoire, will take place at the Recital Hall in the Music and Dance Facility at 12 Noon. The concert is Free! For more information please click here.
Melody of China at the Chico World Music Festival
Sep 17, 2011
Join Melody of China as they kick off their fall season with a performance at the Chico World Music Festival on Saturday, September 17th. They go on at 12:30pm on the Sycamore Stage and then again at 3pm in Taylor Hall. The Chico World Music Festival takes place at CSU Chico in Chico, CA. The concerts are free! More information may be found at the Chico performances web site:www.chicoperformances.com.
Japan Relief Concert at Chinese Culture Center
May 19, 2011
Melody of China artists will perform with Frances Wong and others at the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco on May 19, 2011. Proceeds go to benefit victims of the tsunami and quake in Japan. The concert begins at 7pm in the auditorium. Map and Directions: www.c-c-c.org/contact
Melody of China to Perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco
Feb 19, 2011
Catch Melody of China as they perform on the Bank of America float at the annual Chinese New Year Parade in downtown San Francisco. See the Chinese New Year Parade Website for more information. Happy New Year!! 新 年 快 乐 ！！！
Melody of China to Partner with SF Symphony's AIM Program
Jan 07, 2011
From January through May 2011 Melody of China will partner with the San Francisco Symphony's Adventures in Music program (AIM) in giving performances in San Francisco and bay area schools letting students experience the wonders of Chinese traditional and Western instruments.
Melody of China performs at the Confucius Institute
Nov 15, 2010
On November 15th, Melody of China performed at the Confucius Institute at San Francisco State University.
Melody of China performs at Northeastern State University
Nov 09, 2010
On November 9th, Melody of China gave a special performance at Northeastern State University in Talequah, Oklahoma.
Melody of China and Francis Wong: "Shanghai Stories" World Premiere
Nov 05, 2010
Melody of China, in association with Asian Improv aRts, presents the world premiere of a new work, "Shanghai Stories", by jazz saxophonist and composer Francis Wong. "Shanghai Stories" celebrates the intersection of musical cultures that took place in Shanghai, China during the 1920's and '30's when jazz intermingled with Chinese music. Melody of China and Francis Wong will be joined by special guests Wayne Wallace, Tatsu Aoki and Deszon Claiborne. The concert begins at 8pm at Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. For tickets, please call (415)474-1608 or online at: www.oldfirstconcerts.org/tickets.
Melody of China at the National Association of Women Judges 32nd Annual Conference in San Francisco
Oct 15, 2010
Melody of China performed at the Asian Art Museum on October 15th for the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) annual conference.
Melody of China at the University of Alaska, Anchorage
Oct 09, 2010
Melody of China will be putting on a special performance at the University of Alaska in Anchorage on October 9th. Contact Melody of China for more information: info@melodyofchina.org.
Melody of China at the Fall Free for All
Sep 26, 2010
See Melody of China perform at the Fall Free for All. Part of the Cal Performances 2010-11 season, the Fall Free for All includes a broad range of music and dance performances including Kronos Quartet and Diamano Coura West African Dance. The entire event runs from 11am to 5pm. MOC takes the stage at the Wheeler Auditorium at 4pm. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit: http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/performances/2010-11/fffa/.
Melody of China at Chamber Music Day
Sep 12, 2010
Presented by the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, join us for a marathon featuring 31 of the best chamber ensembles in the San Francisco bay area, including Melody of China. Performances will feature an incredible array of diverse music - from baroque and classical to contemporary and jazz. September 12, 2010 12Noon - 6:30pm at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco. For more information call (415)820-1530 or go online: www.sffcm.org/events/chamber-music-day/schedule/.
Melody of China Showcase performance at WAA 2010
Sep 01, 2010
Melody of China gave a stirring performance at the 2010 WAA conference on September 1st in Long Beach, CA. The chamber group performed their famous Chinese traditional repertoire to a packed, enthusiastic audience. For booking information, please contact Bill Smith at Eye for Talent: www.eyefortalent.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/artist.detail/artist_id/150.
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.