The Suburbanite
Jackson TWP, Ohio —
Kent State University at Stark presents the exotic music of the Orchid Ensemble on Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Main Hall Auditorium, 6000 Frank Avenue NW in Jackson Township. This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Established in 1997, the JUNO-nominated Orchid Ensemble consists of Lan Tung on the erhu/Chinese violin, Haiqiong Deng on the zheng/Chinese zither and Jonathan Bernard on percussion. The ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, world music, new music to jazz and creative improvisation. The energetic, yet endearing performance style of the ensemble consistently intrigues and delights its audiences. Their music has been acclaimed as an “interpretation of Asian musical traditions with fresh beauty” (Edmonton Journal). With the members hailing from China, Taiwan and Canada, the Orchid Ensemble has tirelessly developed an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians. The ensemble tours regularly across North America, giving more than 70 performances each year at concert halls, educational institutes and prominent world, jazz and folk music festivals. Recent appearances include The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery, Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa, Festival Miami, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. As British Columbia’s spokesperson for the UNESCO ASPnet in Canada, the Orchid Ensemble gives educational presentations to various age groups. Music from the ensemble’s CD Road to Kashgar is featured regularly on Canadian broadcasting stations. For more information on the Orchid Ensemble, visit www.orchidensemble.com. For additional information about Kent State Stark Music Department events, call 330-244-5151.
