Yang Yi of West Windsor was the artistic director for the recent International Chinese Music Festival held in Princeton and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She is the director of American Alliance for World Music and Arts, musical director of Princeton University Chinese Music Ensemble, and founder of Yang Yi Guzheng Academy. She has also served on the faculty of the China Conservatory of Music, her alma mater.
The festival featured workshops, demonstrations, a meet the composers series, and a Chinese instrument competition. A highlight of the event was an opportunity to learn about and play some of the Chinese musical instruments. The first two days, Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, were held at Princeton University. A closing concert was held at Weill Concert Hall in Carnegie Hall on Monday, October 8. The performance featured the Princeton University Chinese Music Ensemble (ChiMe), master musicians from both China and the United States, as well as festival competition winners.
There were several competition winners from West Windsor and Plainsboro. Jocelyn Fu, a first place winner, is a senior at High School North. Diana Sun, a first place winner, is a senior at High School South. Jennifer Zhang, a first place winner, is a junior at High School South. Jennifer Lin, a third place winner, is a junior at High School South. They are all students of Yang Yi, who was not involved in judging the competition.
ChiME is a student club at Princeton University with a mission to foster an appreciation of China’s musical heritage by offering instructional and performance opportunities in traditional Chinese instruments. They perform both traditional and modern Chinese music, and combine traditional Chinese instruments with western instruments. Yi offers weekly guzheng lessons for students at all levels and numerous Chinese music ensembles.
