AYA - Graduate School Alumni

Friday, November 7, 8:15 pm
Performance of Traditional Chinese and Korean Music
Peabody Museum of Natural History, Auditorium

Part I:
Jin Hi Kim, Komungo Muse & Permutations
Jin Hi Kim is highly acclaimed both as a komungo virtuoso and for her cross-cultural compositions, which she has performed with the Kronos Quartet and the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society. (The komungo is a six- stringed fretted board zither that originated in Northern Korea in the 4th century.) Ms. Kim is active worldwide as one of the leading compositional voices of a new Generation East, which is rooted deeply in the rich Korean musical tradition as well as an evolving distinctively Pan- Asian/American compositional approach. Kim’s work celebrates the different energies of Buddhist and Confucian-influenced Korean court music and the spirit of vigorous Shamanistic folk music. Her works approach contemporary composition with a bilingual tongue, drawing on the most stimulating aspects of each of these cultures.

Part II:
Instrumental and vocal music performed by professional Chinese Folk Musicians from the Connecticut Chinese Culture Association. Selections will include a variety of traditional instrumental works along with vocal performances of folk pieces from ethnic minority regions of China.

Saturday, November 8, 8:30 pm
Performance by Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company
Location to be announced

Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, a unique group, bridges East and West together, as well as contemporary and ancient cultures. Throughout its 32-year history of continuous creative, performing and educational activities across the United States and abroad the company has contributed to the aesthetic development of dance incorporating cultural heritage strongly influenced by Japanese tradition into a framework of contemporary dance. Among the highlights of its activities are performances at The Kennedy Center, New York Dance Festival, the First Asian Contemporary Dance Festival, International Festival in Venezuela, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Family Program and New National Theater in Tokyo. The company has also appeared in numerous programs at Japan Society and Asia Society in New York City. For more than two decades, the company has also been introducing Japanese culture through dance to children in many cities. The company’s television appearances include PBS’s “Live by Satellite: Japanese performing Arts in America,” WPIX’s “Best Talk,” JOMX-Tokyo’s “From Your Town,” and Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.”