Foundation
for Chinese Performing Arts
3
Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773
Tel: 781-259-8195,
Fax: 781-259-9147
Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net
www.ChinesePerformingArts.net
The Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, is a non-profit
organization registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in January, 1989. The main objectives of the Foundation are:
* To enhance the understanding and the appreciation of Eastern heritage through music and performing arts.
* To increase the visibility of Chinese music and performing arts
through performances.
* To stimulate the research of Chinese music and performing arts.
* To provide opportunities and assistance to young artists.
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The Foundation held its official opening ceremony on September 23,
1989, at the Rivers School in Weston. Professor
Chou Wen-Chung of Columbia University
lectured on the late Alexander Tcherepnin and his contribution in promoting Chinese music.
The Tcherepnin Society, represented by the late Madame Ming Tcherepnin, an Honorable Board
Member of the Foundation, donated to the Harvard Yenching Library a set of original
musical manuscripts composed by Alexander Tcherepnin and his student, Chiang Wen-Yeh. Dr. Eugene Wu, Director of the Harvard Yenching
Library, was there to receive the gift that includes the original orchestra score of the National Anthem of
the Republic of China commissioned in 1937 to
Alexander Tcherepnin by the Chinese government.
The Foundation awarded Ms. Wha
Kyung Byun as the outstanding music educator.
In early December 1989, the Foundation,
recognized Professor Sylvia
Shue-Tee Lee for her contribution in educating young violinists.
The recipient of the Foundation's 1989 artist scholarship award
was Mr. Jindong Cai, who obtained his
Masters of Music in Choral and Orchestral Conducting from the New England Conservatory of
Music. The scholarship provided him to participate in the “Seminar for Conductors”
at the Tanglewood Music Center. The same scholarship was awarded to Mr. Pei-Kun Xi, also Master in Conducting from
New England Conservatory, for the same class at Tanglewood, 1990. The 1991 scholarship
recipients were pianists John Park and J.G. Park
from Korea. The Foundation also sponsored Mr.
Ilia Itin for the 9 th Robert
Casadesus International Piano competition where he won the first prize. The 1992
scholarship recipient was Mr. Lan Shui,
the Affiliated Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Lan Shui is currently
the conductor and the music director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since 1996. The
1994 scholarship recipient was soprano Ms. Guiping
Deng of Boston University under Phylis Curtain, for studing with Marlena Malas of the Metropolitan Opera House. The 1999
scholarship was awarded to cellist Miss Xu
Xiao-Jan in supporting her studies with Professor Laurence Lesser at New England
Conservatory.
The Foundation awards about $30,000 annually in scholarships to
young musicians who attend our Summer Music
Festival at Walnut Hill.
GRANTS
In supporting the art community, the Foundation provided grants to
several institutions including the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra's
(YPO) concert tour to Taiwan and Korea, 1989; “A Ma Sitson Retrospective”
concert April 13, 1990; Boston Musica Viva for their “Asian and Asian-American
Composers Concert” on April 20, 1990; the ALEA III International Composition
Competition, 1990, 1993-1996; the Jin-Jin Lin Dancing Company, 1990; the 7th and 8th
International Young Artist Piano Competitions Featuring Chinese Music, 1992 and 1993; and many others.
COMMISSIONED WORKS
1. “The Stream Flows” for solo violin, Bright Sheng,
1990.
World
premiere: October 20, 1990. Nai-Yuan Hu, violin
Jordan Hall of
the New England Conservatory, Boston
2. “Westwinds” for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble,
Theodore Antoniou,
1991.
World premiere: May 4, 1991 by ALEA III
Chamber Orchestra, at Marsh Chapel, Boston
University, Boston
3. “Autumn Air” for flute and doublebass, Yong Yang,
1992
World
premiere: Spring, 1993, London
4. “East-West for Chamber Orchestra”, Theodore Antoniou,
1993
World
premiere: May 1, 1993. ALEA III Chamber Orchestra
5. “Run” for flute, clarinet, harp, piano, and string
quartet,
Theodore
Antoniou, 1996
World
premiere: May 4, 1996. ALEA III Chamber
Orchestra
6. “River Songs” for erhu and cello,Yong Yang, 2001.
World premiere: January 18,2002, Xu Ke ,erhu at Jordan Hall.
7. “Distant Rhythm” for erhu, pipa, violin, viola, and
cello. Yong Yang, 2005. World premiere:
January 8, 2005 at Jordan Hall.
CONCERTS
1.October 21, 1989: Pianist
Yin Cheng-Zong. Boston debut at
Harvard’s Sanders Theater. The concert
was wll received and was favorably reviewed by the Boston Globe and other newspapers.
2. February 27, 1990: The Foundation, together with the Enchanted
Circle Series of the New England Conservatory, presented “Winds from China, New Music
by Chinese Composers” at Jordan Hall. Works
by Ma Shui-Long, Chen Yi, Tan Dun, Bright Sheng,
Zhou Long, Yong Yang and Qu Xiao-Song were performed by the ALEA III Chamber Orchestra conducted by
conductor/composer Theodore Antoniou. Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe said “...the
city's first concert by the young Chinese composers... It is only a matter of time before
Chinese composers begin to take their places in the international pantheon.”
3.October 20, 1990: Violinist
Nai-Yuan Hu. Boston recital debut, at
New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. Richard Buell of the Boston
Globe praised the outstanding performance by the
1985 first prize winner of Queen Elisabeth Competition of Belgium Nai-Yuan Hu and his
accompanist Dr. Ick Choo Moon, and the composer Bright Sheng, whose solo violin piece
“The Stream Flows” was
commissioned by the Foundation and was premiered at the concert.
4. April 6, 1991: A
benefit concert for Boston's South Cove Manor Nursing Home at Jordan Hall. Featured artists included pianist Yin Cheng-Zong and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, all
under the baton of conductor/composer Theodore
Antoniou. The program included: Yellow
River Concerto, Mozart piano concerto No. 21, and Rachmaninoff piano concerto No. 2. A sum of $5,000 was raised and was presented to
the Nursing Home by Professor Susan Weld (Mrs. Governor Weld of Massachusetts) on behalf
of the Foundation. Richard Dyer of the Boston
Globe gave this concert a fine review. The Foundation also held an international
competition to search for the best Chinese translation for the “Pro Arte”
Orchestra. The winner, Miss Chia-Yu Tu, a
senior at National Taiwan University, received certificate and cash award.
5. May 4 and 5, 1991: The
First International Conference on Chinese Music at Boston University. The objective is to stimulate discussions of
East-West cross cultural influences on music compositions.
Keynote speakers were: Lukas Foss,
Earl Kim, Robert Morris, George Rochberg and Chinary Ung. Ten junior composers of Chinese-American
background also presented their works. Selected
works by the keynote speakers were presented in a concert on May 4. “Westwinds,” composed specifically for
this conference by Theodore Antoniou,
was premiered. Richard Buell of the Boston
Globe reviewed this concert with remarkable
comments.
6.April 24, 1992: Pianist
Pi-Hsien Chen. Boston Debut, at Jordan Hall.
Richard Buell from the Boston Globe wrote: “... Chen seems the kind of forceful and unafraid
interpreter...this, and much else, suggested a first-rate, penetrating musical
intelligence. It was a strong, straight and
movingly realized account, and it won't soon be forgotten.”
7.November 30, 1992: A special concert in memory of Alexander and Ming Tcherepnin for their
contribution to Chinese music at Harvard University’s Sander’s Theatre. In this
concert, Yo-Yo Ma played Tcherepnin's
Suite for Solo Cello and joined violinist Lynn
Chang in the Duo Fantasia. Pianists Luise Vosgerchian, Judith Gordon, Lily
Tong Chou and cellist Rhonda Rider also performed works of Tcherepnin. The second half of the concert was devoted to
Alexander Tcherepnin's opera “The Nymph and
the Farmer,” in a semi-staged production overseen by Ivan Tcherepnin and
narrated by June Lewin. The singers were
Cindy Wang and Bo Song, both eminent
artists from China. The Pro Arte Orchestra of Boston were directed
by Lan Shui, the Affiliated Conductor of
the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The Boston Globe called it, “An elegant tribute to the Tcherepnin family!”
and said that “... his (Alexander Tcherepnin’s) time is coming,..” Even
though it was a long concert, Richard Dyer indicated that he was "hungry for
more!" Josiah Fisk of the Boston
Herald called it “a fitting memorial,” and
that “the performers were numerous and superb.”
8.January 29, 1993: Pianist
Fou Ts'ong at Jordan Hall. Program included Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy. Richard Buell from the Boston Globe wrote “...his reputation as a Chopin player is of a kind
that no amount of glossy ads and record-store display can buy...Whose quality is evident
from the first few notes.”
9. May 1 and 2, 1993: The Second
International Conference on Chinese Music at Boston University. Keynote speakers
were Lawrence Moss, Jonathan Kramer, Earl Kim,
Chinary Ung and Leon Kirchner. Fourteen Chinese-American composers also presented
their works. Selected works by the keynote speakers and of Shui-Long Ma and the late Daylee Lee-Huei Wu were performed by ALEA III on May 1. “East-West for
Chamber Orchestra” by Theodore Antoniou was premiered at the concert and
received fine review by Anthony Tommasini of The Boston Globe.
10. July 24, 1993: “An Evening of Beethoven” at Boston
University Tsai Performance Center. Featured soloists Lynn Chang, Mihae Lee, and Bion Tsang
performed Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C under the direction of Ronald Knudsen with members from the
Longwood and Newton Symphony Orchestras. Richard
Buell of the Boston Globe wrote: “...real
music-making did get done. And your reviewer can also count himself among those who were
glad to be there.”
11. October 31, 1993: Pianist
Yin Cheng-Zong in celebrating the 10th anniversary of his debut at Carnegie Hall, New York. Along with Haydn, Debussy, and Chopin, Mr. Yin
included two New York debuts of Chinese pieces: “Moonlight Over Spring River”
and “Ambush on Ten Sides.” Bernard
Holland of The New York Times wrote:
“Mr. Yin's absolutely beautiful command of piano color” had made his concert a
pleasure one to attend.
12. November 14, 1993: Pianist
Gwendolyn Mok. Boston debut at Jordan Hall. In
praising Ms. Mok‘s performance, Richard Buell of the Boston Globe wrote: “The initial good impression made by Samuel Barber’s
‘Excursions’ was sustained by a self-possessed, unflashy, but peculiarly spot-on
account of the Ravel ‘Miroirs.”
13. May 23, 1994: The
Peacock Princess, dancer Yang LiPing
from China. Boston debut at John Hancock
Hall. More than one thousand people filled the hall.
14. October 8, 1995: Taipei
Sinfonietta Orchestra debut performance at Boston’s
Symphony Hall. Music Director Henry
Mazer along with pianist Hung-Kuan Chen
and trumpet Timothy Morrison presented works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Schoenberg
and Fou-Tong Huang to the more than 2000 music lovers at Symphony Hall. Richard Dyer of
the Boston Globe called the Taipei
Sinfonietta “a great string orchestra… The first sound of the Taipei Sinfonietta
in Symphony Hall Sunday night was electrifying...”
15. February 3, 1996: Pianist Yin Cheng-Zong at New York Carnegie Hall (the Main Hall.) About two
thousand attended.
16. March 30, 1996: The first joint concert by Pianists Pi-Hsien Chen and her brother Hung-Kuan
Chen at Jordan Hall. Michael Manning of Boston Globe wrote: “It was clear from the outset that both are highly
accomplished musicians, very skilled pianists ... “
17. May 3 and 4, 1996: The Third
International Conference on Chinese Music. Keynote
speakers were Lukas Foss, Jonathan Kramer,
Lawrence Moss, Rulan Chao Pian, Bernard Rands, Kay Kaufman Shelemay, David Stock, and Ivan
Tcherepnin. Thirteen Chinese-American
composers also presented their works. Selected
works by the keynote speakers and that of Tzyy-Sheng
Lee, Lei Liang, Yang Yong, Po-Yun Hsu, May-Tchi Chen, Joyce Bee Tuan Koh, and Shing-Kwei
Tzeng were performed by ALEA III
in two concerts on May 3 and 4. “Run”
by Theodore Antoniou was commissioned by
the Foundation and premiered at the concert and received favorable review by the Boston
Globe.
18. October 5, 1996: “Songs from the World” with soprano Ree-Ven Wang, mezzo soprano Ji-Young Lee,
and pianist Michael Beattie at Jordan Hall.
19. March 29,
1997: Pianist Fou Ts’ong gave an
All-Schubert program in celebration of Schubert’s 200th birthday, at Jordan Hall. It
was a sold-out event with an enthusiastic audience filled up the entire Hall. Michael
Manning of The Boston Globe said:
“...The Chinese virtuoso Fou Ts’ong is a legendary Chopin Mazurka interpreter
who hewed the trail now well trod by Asian musicians.”
He praised this concert as “...powerful,
personal, and extraordinary...” He
continued: “...in this bicentennial year, it’s easy to pay lip service to
Schubert’s importance. But it’s
thorough performances like this that we really come to reckon with the awesome scope of
his imagination and prescience...”
20. September 27, 1997: Pianist Tian Ying at Jordan Hall. Richard Dyer of
The Boston Globe used a title “Ying
is at pinnacle of pianism” for his review, and started his article by saying “In
the first major piano recital of the season, Tian Ying set the bar unimaginably high. If we are lucky, others will play as well; no one
is going to play better.”
21. March 27, 1998: Peking
Opera at Harvard University’s Sander’s Theatre. Presented jointly with the “World Music,”
this sold-out event led the enthusiastic audience through a breath-taking journey. The 57-member Peking Opera Group received top
rated reviews from both The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.
22. April 2, 1998:
Traditional Silk and Bamboo Music by “The
China Found Music Workshop” from Taiwan at the Concert Hall, Boston
University. Program started with a
pre-concert lecture, and included traditional Chinese music and new works by Pan Hwang-Long, Lee Tzyy-Sheng, and a
world premier piece by Hsu Ya-Ming.
23. April 10, 1998: Violinist Cho-Liang Lin, pianist Li Jian, and
cellist Hai-Ye Ni performed works by Copland, Dvorak, Gordan Chin, and Bright
Sheng at Jordan Hall. Richard Buell of the Boston
Globe called it “high-powered trio of
instrumentalists for a program that ventured enterprisingly beyond safe and standard.”
24. September 25,
1998: Violinist Lynn Chang, pianist Hung-Kuan
Chen, and cellist Bion Tsang performed works by Ravel, Brahms, Bright Sheng, and
Smetana at Jordan Hall. Barbara Sealock of
the Middlesex News called it: “A spellbinding evening... the
performers, together and individually, will undoubtedly garnering further international
acknowledge...”
25. February 20, 1999: Pianist
Fou Ts’ong at Jordan Hall for an All-Chopin program. Richard Buell of the Boston
Globe praised Fou Ts’ong in this sold-out
performance: ” ..the lofty position Fou Ts’ong occupies among the pianistic
elite is something you’ll get no arguments about from those in the know....This
recital documented the pianist’s lifelong devotion to Chopin in the most beautiful
and moving of ways....”
26. February 26,
1999: Pianist
Fou Ts’ong at Carnegie Hall
(Main Hall) for an All-Chopin program. More
than 2,600 people filled the Carnegie with standing ovation. This sold-out event received
very good reviews.
27.April 20, 1999: Contemporary
Chamber Orchestra Taipei, Chun-Fung Lee, Music Director, at the First and Second
Church in Boston. Richard Buell of Boston Globe praised the works by Ma Shui-Ling, Earl Kim, and Ivan Tcherepnin.
As to performances: “...quite fine when the going was international and impersonal...”
28. September 25, 1999: Alexander
Tcherepnin Centennial Concert at Boston Symphony Hall. A special memorial concert dedicated to Alexander,
Ming, and Ivan Tcherepnin for their contribution to Chinese Music. More than 2600 people
filled the Symphony Hall to its capacity to
hear Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Chang, Hung-Kuan Chen, and
the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra directed by Lan Shui. Both Boston Globe
and Boston Herald announced this event three weeks prior the concert and
followed with several other reports and very favorable reviews. Richard Dyer of Boston Globe called this concert “An eloquent tribute to Tcherepnins, the
father and son who lived for music” Mr.
Lloyd Schwartz of Boston Phoenix said
“...What we now need is to hear more of his (Alexander) music - more music by all the
Tcherepnins.” The program book with more then 180 pages of special collection of photos, biographies and
tributes to Alexander, Ming and Ivan written by famous musicians has served as a reference
document for sure.
29. January 28, and Saturday, January 29, 2000: Beijing Kunju Opera at Harvard University’s
Sanders Theatre. Presented jointly with the
“World Music,” this two sold-out evenings led the enthusiastic audience through
a breath-taking journey. The 60-member group
performed “Borrowing the fan”, “Zhong Kui marries off his sister”,
“The crossroads” and “In the garden from the Peony Pavilion.” The
performances received top rated reviews from both The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe called it “...dazzling show...” “(the) happy
audience experienced one of the world’s most spectacular theatrical forms..”
30.February 18, 2000: Pianist
Pi-Hsien Chen at Jordan Hall. Despite
of the heavy snow storm, about 400 came from as far as New York City. Richard Buell of the
Boston Globe praised her talent and
feistiness: “ It was hardly a surprise that Chen’s playing showed an
unexceptionable sylistic ease. What did astonish was her capacity for pumping oxygen into
the air. A heady sense of experimentation played about the proceedings. And it wasn’t
just her program, feisty and challenging as this was.”
31. April 8, 2000: New
Music from China, Concert and Seminar, at Longy School of Music. Composers
(alphabetically) Shih-Hui Chen, Chen Yi, Sarana
Tzu-Ling Chou, Bun-Ching Lam, Hwang-Long Pan, Bright Sheng, Yang Yong, and Zhou Long
represent three generations of Chinese composers from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and
their works are performed by Boston Modern
Orchestra Project with Gil Rose conducting and Wu Man as the pipa soloist. More
than 400 people, including Pulitzer winner Professor Bernard Rands and Richard Buell of Boston
Globe, filled the concert hall to its capacity.
32. May 12, 2000: Duo
Asiatica (Song Tu, clarinet and Pi-Hsun Shih, piano) and pianist Elaine Chew at
Jordan Hall. Principal clarinetist of both Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai
Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, Song Tu and pianist Pi-Hsun Shih performed Weber’s
Grand Duo among other works in “…total homony…” described by one of
the reviewers. Pianist Elaine Chew was also
received fine reviews.
33. September 22, 2000: Violinist
Nai-Yuan Hu, accompanied by pianist Nelson Padgett, at Jordan Hall. Program
included works by Mozart, Bach, and Strauss. The
concert was received by an overwhelming enthusiasm, especially to Bach’s Partita for
solo violin.
34.October 7, 2000. Pianist Fou Ts’ong at Jordan Hall.
Michael Manning of The Boston Globe gave
Mr. Fou a rave review for his triumphant return to another sold out concert: “ There
are but a few instances in most people's experience that bring them into the company of a
great artist. Two of mine have been with the
same performer - the legendary Chinese pianist, Fou Ts'ong... Fou… is acknowledged as one of the great
performers by many of his most esteemed colleagues, ... as one of the greatest living
interpreters of Chopin... Saturday night's concert removed any doubt..."
35.February 2, 2001. Pianist
Dang Thai-Son??? at Jordan Hall. Richard Dyer of The Boston Globe praised Dang in this Boston Debut, “ … a pianist of
superb discipline and undeniable distinction…It left us with a strong desire to hear
him again.” Mr. Dyer also recognized the
tireless effort of the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, he said “…their series has been a valuable
addition to our cultural landscape, and over the years it has built a substantial
and enthusiastic audience for Asian artists of all kinds.”
36. March 17, 2001. Pianist Hung-Kuan Chen at Jordan Hall.
Richard Dyer of The Boston Globe wrote:
“Never will I forget his encore after a blazing performance in 1987-- Brahms’s
‘Paganini’ Variations!” Ms.
Ellen Pfeifer of The Boston Globe
titled her review: “Chen takes command at Jordan Hall” marking Mr. Chen’s
triumphant return to the stage after his severe hand injury in 1992. She described the performance as “Spectacular!”
37. April 7, 2001. Pianist Tian Ying at Jordan Hall. Michael
Minning of the Boston Globe titled his
review as: "Pianist Tian Ying shows stunning artistry at Jordan Hall" He posted Mr. Ying's photo with this line: "
Pianist Tian Ying gave a memorable performance at Jordan Hall" and wrote:
"...Ying’s program was a memorable entry on this year's concert calendar...
There was not a moment that one could call ordinary, nor a single musical impulse that
qualified as mundane... Ying is magnificently well equipped, with a degree of control and
finesse that sets him apart, even among his estimable peers..."
38. April 27, 2001. A Traditional Chinese Music Concert by Ping Li, dulcimer, Jun Qin, GuZhang, and Zhan-Tao
Lin, Erhu at The Tsai Performance Center at Boston University. The excellent
performances charmed the sold-out American and Chinese audiences.
39. May 13, 2001: Taiwan
Heritage Concert 2001 at Harvard’s Paine Hall. Pianist Hung-Kuan Chen and his sister violinist Pi-Chao Chen performed music by Taiwanese
composers: Wen-Yeh Chiang, Shih-Hui Chen,
Hwang-Long Pan, and Gordon Chin.
40. October 19, 2001. The
Ju Tzong-Ching Percussion Group at Longy school of Music. Boston Debut. The Group
charmed a full house, bringing the enthusiastic audience to their feet, cheering nonstop.
Not only was the performance uniquely presented, but the preparation of the group
demonstrated top professionalism. Upon the request of the Foundation for Chinese
Performing Arts, the Group added a special arrangement of Irving Berlin's "God Bless
America" as a tribute to the tragedy of September 11.
41.January 18, 2002. Xu
Ke Erhu Recital Music from the Silk Road at Jordan Hall. Accompanists are pianist
Wang Li, cellist Edward Arron, and dulcimer player Zhang Zhen-Tian. Program included Erhu
classics, Silk Road music, and world premieres of works by Yang Yong and Wang Yanquao. The
enthusiastic audience was stunned by Xu Ke’s superb technique and amazed by the
flexibility, speed, dynamism, and hall-filling tone of this ancient, two-stringed Chinese
instrument.
42.April 13, 2002. Pianist Fou Ts’ong at Jordan Hall.
Over one thousand enthusiastic audience members packed Jordan Hall in this special concert
dedicated to the memory of pianist Fei-Ping Hsu (1952-2001), who was
scheduled to appear originally but passed away in a tragic automobile accident in China.
The fruits of a lifelong devotion to music were displayed in Fou Ts’ong’s
Performance. Despite of the tendentious in his hands, Fou Ts’ong’s penetrating
notes reached out to everyone in the concert hall.
One could appreciate why Hermann Hesse of the New York Times called him “the only true performer of Chopin.” In his master class the next day, Fou Ts’ong
explained his ideas to three advanced young pianists including Ning An, winner of the
Chopin and Rachmoninoff competitions, as well as nearly one hundred musicians and
students.
43. October 5, 2002. “Triple Visions” A Gala Concert
with violinist Lynn Chang, pianist Hung-Kuan Chen, cellist Bion Tsang, and
the New England String Ensemble Festival Orchestra led by Susan
Davenny Wyner, at Jordan Hall. Program included Beethoven’s Trio No. 6 in Bb
major (“Archduke”), and Beethoven’s Concerto for violin, cello, piano and
orchestra in C major. The three soloists,
each the recipient of individual international acclaim, were united as one in the trio
performances. The concert also featured the Boston debut of Bright Sheng’s
“Post Cards” for Orchestra, a love letter from China describing the nature, the
people, and the culture.
44.October 11, 2002: “Chinese in America”
at Jordan Hall. In collaboration with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gill Rose
conductor. Works by Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, Chen Yi, Yang Yong, and Shih-Hui Chen
were presented, with featuring soloists Wu Man on pipa and Xu Ke
on Erhu. Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe noted the effort of the Foundation in promoting the
Chinese composers: “…it was amazing to think back to the first such local
program a dozen years ago - it featured four of the same composers, all of them still or
recently students, and some of them have since become figures of world importance. “
45.February 1, 2003: Cho-Liang Lin, violin and André-Michel
Schub, piano at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. This classical duo demonstrated
its artistic excellence and flowing musical repport in works by Beethoven, Lutoslawski,
Chen Yi, and Brahms. Chinese New Year’s Day was celebrated with an exceptionally high
caliber performance that will be long remembered. This concert was recorded live by WGBH
89.7 FM for broadcast.
46. April 5, 2003: The Shanghai Quartet at Jordan
Hall. A memorable performance with a foursome of uncommon refinement and distinction.
Their superb artistry was demonstrated in a program of Beethoven, Schubert, and selections
of “ChinaSong” by Yi-Wen Jiang. Tthe Quartet exhibited remarkable rapport
with their collective passion and virtuosity that captured the attendance, particularly
with the “ChinaSong.” The concert was record live by WGBH
89.7 FM for radio broadcast.
47. August 29, 2003: Han-Tang Yuefu Ensemble???? Boston Debut at John Hancock Hall.
Dubbed "spell-binding" by the New York Times,
Han-Tang Yeufu was praised by Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe as “…a crowd-pleasing journey..the dancing was graceful
and excellent… the founder Chen Mei-O, a singer of extraordinary plangent resources..
the music was intimate..it came from a culture that was closer to the rhythms and
patterns of nature than are our lives today." Their lecture and demonstration
at Harvard's Yenching Library on August 23 initiated passionate discussions among the
renowned scholars in attendance. This highly anticipated performance was featured in both
the Boston Globe's Critics' Picks and
Calendar's Choice sections.
48. October 4, 2003: Pianist Meng-Chieh Liu Boston Debut
at Jordan Hall. After surviving life-threatening illness, Meng-Chieh Liu returned to the
stage in his Boston debut with brilliance, depth, and maturity. He presented a highly
challenging program with ease, elegance, and color. The program includes works by
Beethoven, Griffes, Brahms, and Ravel. The audience poured out their unreserved applause
for this moving and inspirational performance. WGBH 89.7 FM invited Mr. Liu for a live performance before the concert. The Boston
Herald published a full page story and photograph,
and Boston Globe cited the concert as a
“Critic’s Choice.”
49. January 29, 2004: National Experimental Choral Group
from Taiwan at Sanders Theatre. The top professional choral group from Taiwan is
celebrating their 18th season with this US-Canada tour. Soprano Dang
Gui-Ping, of “Madame Butterfly” fame from Boston also joined the
performance. It was listed on the “Calender Choice” of the Boston Globe.
50. February 28,
2004: Pianist Dang Thai-Son???at Jordan Hall. The 1st prize winner of 1980 Chopin
International Competition presented to his enthusiastic audience a challenging program
including works by Debussy, César Franck, and
Chopin. He brought the house down playing what Boston Globe has described as “First Class! A
pianist of superb discipline and undeniable distinction.” This concert was recorded live by WGBH 89.7 FM and was listed on Boston Globe’s Calendar’s
Choice.
51. March 14, 2004: Sumptuous Feast Chinese Music for
Strings and More at Forsyth Chapel of Forest Hills. Ching-San Cheung, Shin-Yi
Yang, Elisa Cheung, Lucy Lu, and Chi-Sun Chan performed at a sold-out concert with
traditional Chinese music ranging from classical to morden arrangement.
52. April 17, 2004: Three Rising Stars at Jordan
Hall. Ning An, piano; Joseph Lin, violin; and Wendy Law, cello. Mr. Keith Powers of Boston
Herald said “Virtuosity and musicianship of the
highest order were on display all evening…” The three musicians were invited to
perform live on WGBH 89.7 FM and was
listed on Boston Globe’s Classical Picks.
53. August 4, 2004: The Ju
Tzong-Ching Percussion Group at Sanders Theatre.
T.J. Medrek of Boston Herald reviewed the show and
called them “ Terrific…Striking Performance…, the Ju Percussion Group
positively dazzled in a performance combining the theatrical energy of the “Stomp”
with the sophistication of the finest contemporary classical ensemble. The youthful troupe
of 12 from Taiwan delivered a wide-ranging program that captivated the unquestionably
enthusiastic audience.”
54. October 2, 2004: Pianist Fou Ts’ong 70th
Birthday Concert at Jordan Hall.
55. October 9, 2004: Pianist Fou Ts’ong 70th
Birthday Concert at Carnegie Hall Isaac Stern Auditorium. In the two sold-out
concerts, Fou Ts’ong performed works by Haydn, Schubert, Chopin and Soong Fu-Yuan. His penetrating notes reached out to everyone in
the concert halls. The sprit of a true master
shined and touched all the audience. In his master class October 3 at New England
Conservatory, he explained his ideas to three advanced young pianists, as well as nearly
two hundred musicians and students. He shared many insights to a depth that only a few top
masters can reach. One could appreciate why
Hermann Hesse called him “the only true performer of Chopin.” The concert on October 2 at Jordan Hall was
recorded live by WGBH 89.7 FM and was
listed as one of the “Classical Picks” by Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe.
56. January 8, 2005: Distant Rhythm: Musical Encounters with
Lynn Chang, Wu Man, and Xu Ke at Jordan Hall. Through snow and ice, more than 700
enthusiastic listeners cheered the performance. The concert also included percussionist
Robert Schulz and pianist Leslie Amper, and cellist Yo Yo Ma applauded from the audience. Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe called the performers “superb” and described the music
as “enthralling”. He mentioned Lynn
Chang as “expert and indefatigable” and Leslie Amper as “warm-toned…The
strongest impressions were left by Chen Yi’s ‘Ning’ for violin (Lynn
Chang), cello (Carol Ou), and pipa (Wu Man); and Yang Yong’s ‘Distant Rhythm’
for the same instruments plus erhu (Xu Ke) and viola (Meng-Hsun Chuang).” Keith
Powers of the Boston Herald wrote in
his review entitled “Distant sounds come together harmoniously” that the “intelligent
sonic explorations of gorgeous instruments…blended seamlessly with its Western
counterparts, …and Bright Sheng’s
‘The Stream Flows’ was gracefully interpreted by Lynn Chang and dancer Xiao-Lin
Fan.” He was impressed by erhu’s “surprising volume and clarity.” $5,000 from the proceeds were donated to The Red
Cross for the Tsunami Relief Fund The concert was recorded live by WGBH 89.7
FM.
57. April 9, 2005: Beethoven’s Complete Sonatas and
Variations for piano and cello by pianist Anton Nel and cellist Bion Tsang at
Jordan Hall.
SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS
Since July 1990, the Foundation has organized a very successful
summer music festival at the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts. Each year, about 30 talented young musicians,
chosen through their auditions, come from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, and the
United States to participate in an intensive musical training program with world-class
masters on a one-on-one basis. The
instructors of the festival include world renowned musicians: T. Krafchenko, Russell
Sherman, (late) Luise Vosgerchian, Doriot Dwyer, Laurence Lesser, Masuko Ushioda, Yin
Cheng-Zong, Lynn Chang, Anthony di Bonaventura, Wha Kyung Byun, David Deveau, Hung-Kuan
Chen, Pi-Hsien Chen ,Nai-Yuan Hu, Bion Tsang, Meng-Chieh Liu, Jean DeMart, Steven Finley,
Samuel Headrick, Yong Yang,, Ilya Itin, Thomas Hill, Ree-Ven Wang, Shih-Huei Chen,
Sue-Ellen Tcherepnin, Carol Ou, Neil De Land, Patty Thom, Michael Bonner, and many other
outstanding artists. Along with private lessons, chamber ensembles, master classes and
music theory, the students were taken to Tanglewood Music Center, concerts, musical
performances, museums, piano factory, and many historical sites in the greater Boston
area. The same program will be offered again from August 1-23, 2005 for the 14th year.
Pianist Lang Lang and many other young talents were students of this program.
Each year, the faculty members and the students of the music
festival perform at least twelve concerts/master classes/lectures. The Longwood Symphony Summer Orchestra
participated for the past several years to perform on campus and at the Boston Esplanade
Hatch Memorial Shell by the Charles River. The
festival concert series are of top quality
and captured media attentions. Mr. Richard Buell of The Boston Globe wrote after Professor Pi-Hsien Chen’s recital of Bach’s
“Art of Fugue” in 1997 : “Even now, any public performance of Bach’s
‘Art of Fugue’ has a way of taking on the character of a rite, a ceremony, a
privileged visit to the great good place. Pi-Hsien
Chen’s account of it was a rare one indeed, but not only in a statistical sense. As a guide to this musical encyclopedia of Bach’s
old age, the Taiwanese-born pianist seemed born to the role....”
ALL-AMERICAN CHINESE LANGUAGE SCHOOLS CHINESE BRUSH
PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION
Since 1991, the Foundation has organized the All-American Chinese Language Schools Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Competition
annually each April. Each year over 450
entries from about 40 different Chinese Schools in 16 different States are submitted for
competition. The numbers are rising each year and the response has been overwhelming. Winners receive cash awards, certificates, and
have their art works exhibited in the metropolitan Boston area, and also posted on the
Foundation’s website. The panel of
judges is made up of renowned scholars and artists. They
are: Mr. Tung Wu (former Director, Asiatic Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), Dr. Doris
Chu (President, Chinese Culture Institute), Professor Hui-Fong Lu (Harvard University), Mrs. Wai-Lin Lee (renowned Chinese brush painter
and calligrapher), Dr. Yiguo Zhang (former Research Fellow for Chinese Painting and
Calligraphy at Boston Museum of Fine Arts), Mr. Qingxiong Ma (renowned painter),
Mr.Yu-Sing Jung (renowned calligrapher and architect) and Professor Qian-Shen Bai (Boston
University). The winners’ list and their art works (1999-2004) are on the Foundation’s
website at www.ChinesePerformingArts.net
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
The governing organization for the Foundation consists of the
Honorable Members of the Board, the Executive Officers, and more than 20 members of the
Advisory Council. The Founder and the
President is Dr. Catherine Tan Chan.
SPONSORS (2004-2005): The following sponsors have been giving us their unending support.
Without their generosity, none of the worthy programs could be possible. We thank you
sincerely.
Platinum Patron ($1,000 and more)
Dr. Catherine Tan Chan
Mrs. Chun-Mei Liu Chiu
Dr. and Mrs. Young-Tsung Hung
Mr. and Mrs. Kung-Jui Lin
Mr. Ernest T. H. Tsai
The TAN’s Family Culture Fund
Madam TAN Hsiao
Yuan-Jen Memorial Fund
Golden Patron
($500-$999)
Ellen and Ronald Brown
Chuan and Loretta Chu
Roger and Carol Johnson
Dr. Chien Hui Kao
Mrs. Hai-Ping Ko
Mrs. Der-Hua Lin
Mr. Larry Tan
Patron ($100-$499)
Mr. Richard Bail
Shirley and Peter Chen
Mrs. Ai-Li Chin
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chin
Ms. Y.T. Feng
Mr. Brian Hasbrouck
Mrs. Sophia Ho
Yu Sing and Lena Jung
Dr. Young H. Kim
Beatrice and Raymond Lee
Mrs. Shuwan Lin
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Liu
Prof. Rulan Chao Pian
Sponsor ($50-$99)
Ms. Ruby Chang
Mr. Paul Chernoff
Dr. and Mrs. Shiao-Yu Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Chih-Chung Liu
Ms. HuiJuan Lv
Mr. Mark Mahoney
Mr. And Mrs. T. Y. Shen
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham J. Siegel
Donor ($10 - $49)
Ms. Marjorie Bakken
Ms. Belle Bernstein
Ms. Wilma F. Brown
Mrs. Carol G. Elledge
Judith Epstein-Fisher
Pearl Erlichman
Mrs. Lucienne Feldman
Ms. Tilla G. Fishman
Ms. Hilde Gardner
Ruth C. Gamer
Mrs. Anne S. Gold
Frieda F. Goodman
Dejian Huang
Ms. Doris E. Jacobs
Sara Kalikow
Mrs. Shing-Chuan Kao
Ms. June Kredenser
Ms. Esther Levin
Mrs. Hannah Levin
Mr. Jingbo Niu
Elsie E. Pollack
Mrs. Mildred Raffel
Mrs. Beatrice F. Ravreby
Mrs. Joan Redmont
Ms. Ilse I. Rose
Ruth C. Segel
Mr. Daniel H. Sheingold
Mr. Shurong Shieh
Jean Sidman
Edith A. Surman
Katherine A. Swartz
May Takayanagi
Mr. and Mrs. David Tucker
Dorothy R. Victor
Mrs. Eleanor F. Victor
Isadore and Helen C. Waber
Mrs. Thelma A. Wilensky
MEMBERSHIP
The general membership of the Foundation is open to any individual
or organization that supports the objectives. To
become a member, send your name and address to: Foundation
for Chinese Performing Arts, 3 Partridge
Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773. Telephone: 781-259-8195, Fax:
781-259-9147.
Email: Foundation@
ChinesePerformingArts.net,
Website: http://www.ChinesePerformingArts.net
or .com.
There is no membership fee. Tax-deduction donations are greatly
appreciated. Donation can be made online at www.ChinesePerformingArts.net.
(April, 2005)
