A concert featuring GuZheng Academy benefits victims of the recent earthquake in China has been organized by Yang Yi of West Windsor. It will be held on Saturday, June 7, at First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, in West Windsor, at 6:30 p.m. Various award-winning solo and ensemble pieces will be presented at the concert.##M:[more]##
“The goal of this concert is to help bring relief to those affected by the devastating earthquake and to provide support as people are rebuilding their lives and communities,” says Yi. “This quake measuring 8.0 on May 12 is considered one of the largest natural disasters to strike anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands have died and many more injured and or rendered homeless.”
The concert will feature the guzheng (21-stringed Chinese zither) master Yang Yi, a master violinist from Sichuan, Ping Dezheng, who is a Plainsboro resident, and students from Yang Yi Guzheng Academy. The artists are volunteering to benefit the recovery and rehabilitation of victims, and the reconstruction of towns and villages in SiChuan, China through the American Red Cross China Earthquake Relief Fund.
Yi, a world-renowned master musician with more than 20 years of concert performances teaches guzheng both in and out of China and has significantly increased public awareness of guzheng music as well as making it accessible to a broad range of audiences in the US through recitals, concerts, lectures and competitions.
Dezheng is a faculty member of Westminster Conservatory. He received his bachelor’s degree from Beijing Central Conservatory of Music in China, and his master’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. His professional experiences include Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Central Philharmonic of China, Manalapan Battleground Symphony (concertmaster), Augusta Symphony (assistant concertmaster), and Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra (concertmaster). He served as one of adjudicators for 2007 Strings Competition of Young People’s Music Program in Millburn.
Main student performers include Sarah Tang and Hannah Jin, both students at High School South. Tang, a junior at High School South, who was just accepted into the Governor’s School for the engineering and technology program, took third place (age 15-17) at the 2007 NJMTA Competition and High Honor awards at both NJMTA’ s 2007 and 2008 Auditions.
Hannah Jin, a freshman at High School South, took first place (age 11 -14) at the 2007 NJMTA Competition, High Honor awards at both NJMTA’ s 2007 and 2008 Auditions, and the second place (age 13 – 17) at the 2007 CCTV Chinese Instrument Eastern Regional Competition.
— Lynn Miller
Benefit Concert, Yang Yi Academy, First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck , 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor, 609-627-2434. www.guzheng.net. $20 suggested donation. Saturday, June 7, 6:30 p.m.
