Blossoming music

The UWM Friends of the MSO will offer orchestra fans a chance to get to know the Orchid Ensemble and learn a bit about Chinese music when members of the group speak and perform Wednesday as part of the Friends' lecture series. The Orchid Ensemble will perform Qigang Chen's "Iris dévoilée (Iris unveiled)" with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra here and in New York at Carnegie Hall in May. The lecture takes place at 5 p.m. at the UWM Fine Arts Recital Hall, MUS 175, 2400 E. Kenwood Ave., and is free.