Chinese New Year Celebration: Cooke Noontime Concert

Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta & First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta present Cooke Noontime Concert Friday February 12th, 2021 Chinese New Year Celebration- Year of the Ox Spring Festival Overture Chinese Folk Tunes, selection I

“Drum and Gong” and “Red Sona”

Tan Dun

Chinese Folk Tunes selection II Beautiful Night The Vega String Quartet Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Helen Kim, guest violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello Words of the Heart Dan and Cindy Fang, erhu; Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng Forbidden City Dan and Cindy Fang, erhu; Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng Butterfly & Blue Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng

Mountain and Water Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng Fireworks

Daoko and Kenshi Yonezu

Dan and Cindy Fang, erhu; Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng The Only Flower in the World Dan and Cindy Fang, erhu; Helen, pipa; Yao Lu, guzheng

The Vega String Quartet Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Helen Kim, guest violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello The international award-winning Vega String Quartet is on the cutting edge of the new generation of chamber music ensembles. The New York Times raved about its “playing that had a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along . . . the musicians took real risks in their music making . . . ” and the Los Angeles Times praised its “triumphant L.A. debut”. Based in Atlanta where they are Quartet in Residence at Emory University, the quartet also tours throughout Europe, Asia, and North America performing in major cities including Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, London, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Vancouver and Vienna. The quartet is a frequent guest at numerous music festivals including Aspen, Brevard, Mostly Mozart, Rockport, San Miguel de Allende, Highlands-Cashiers, Musicorda, Kingston, and SummerFest La Jolla among others. They have been quartet-in-residence at the Van Cliburn Institute and on the artist roster of Carnegie Hall’s New York City Neighborhood Concert series and Community Concerts Association roster. The quartet is also a member of Young Audiences of Atlanta presenting educational programs throughout the public school system.

The quartet’s live broadcast credits include NPR’s Performance Today, the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques, German Radio and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. The quartet captured four of the top six prizes at the Bordeaux String Quartet Competition (including the international music critics’ prize), as well as top prizes at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, the Carmel Chamber Music Competition, and the National Society of Arts and Letters String Quartet Competition.

Yao Lu, guzheng/bamboo flute, graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy and is an American Chinese bamboo flute (Dizi) and guzheng performer, the Magic Eastern Ensemble music director and Magic Eastern Music Studio

Founder. She has been involved in a variety of TV music programs, large-scale performances and recording work over the years. She was also invited to be a special guest star featuring in the movie "Tiny Times 3". In addition, she has participated in the variety show "I Love the Voice" produced by Zhejiang Satellite TV. The Magic Eastern Ensemble consists of vigorous young talents and was formed under her efforts. She has been committed to promoting traditional national instrumental music culture and the cross-border new folk music that conforms to the aesthetics of Western music culture. In recent years, she has been invited by the University of North Georgia, Emory and other colleges for performances and New Years concerts. She has also performed in Gwinnett’s 200th Celebration, NAAAP Atlanta events, Atlanta International Nightmarket and some other international cultural and arts festivals including the Magic Eastern Ensemble "Hayao Miyazaki theme" concerts.

Cindy Fang, erhu, graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a Master of Art degree in Advertising. She began playing the Erhu when she was 5 years old. Her instructor was the Principal Erhu from China Coal-mine Art Troupe in Beijing. She has practiced and performed for school orchestras in middle school and has participated in school performance events such as welcoming visiting school officials from a Japanese sister high school. She loves traditional Chinese music, and has also learned the Pipa. She plays the Erhu in the Magic Eastern Ensemble.

Dan, erhu, graduated from Kennesaw State University. Now studying at Syracuse University, he has participated in the Magic Eastern Ensemble. He has held New Years concerts with the ensemble and participated in Gwinnett County anniversary performances.

Helen, pipa, graduated from Kennesaw State University, and is now studying at the University of Southern California. She has participated in the Magic Eastern Ensemble. She has held Hayao Miyazaki theme concerts with the Ensemble, participated in Gwinnett County anniversary performances, and many tours.