March 8, 2009
Family Concert
Featuring
Yang Yi, Chinese Guzheng Master
Wennie Niu, Soprano
Program
He Zhan Hao Regretted Separation *US Premiere*
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Op. 36 in F minor
Return to 2008-09 Season
U.S. Premiere Performance of "Regretted Separation" by He Zhan Hao
Yang Yi, world class Guzheng master
Maestra Lin introducing the Tchaikovksy Symphony and the Regretted Separation
Wennie Niu, Soprano Soloist
A historical and most moving performance
Jubilent performers concluding a magnificent concert!
Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Ms. Yang Yi, Chinese Guzheng Master is recognized as a foremost Guzheng master in the world, described by the New York Times as “fascinating, surprising and extraordinarily beautiful",“extraordinarily fantastic, intensive and passionate." by the West German News, and “She really sets the instrument on fire," by the Daily Record, NJ . A winner of International Chinese Instruments Competition and numerous awards, Yang Yi is a highly acclaimed guzheng virtuoso, distinguished guzheng educator and lecturer. She has been profiled in music documentary programs on radio and TV here and abroad. Yang Yi was a faculty at the China Conservatory of music, where she graduated. She has performed as a soloist with the most renowned Chinese Music Groups such as Chinese National Orchestra, China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, China National Song & Dance Ensemble, China National Opera House, and Beijing Song & Dance Ensemble.
As a soloist, Yang Yi has toured extensively throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S., and performed in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (UK), Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal (Germany), Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Ms. Yang has world premiered many new composition of renowned composers such as Chen Yi, Tan Dun, Lutz-Werner Hesse, Lee Tzyy-sheng, and Zhou QinRu. Born in Nanking, Yang Yi studied under gushing master Qui Da Cheng at the prestigious China Conservatory of Music. She was a winner of the 1989 International Chinese Instruments Competition and numerous other awards in China before coming to the United States.
Wennie Nai-Yueh Niu, graduated from the Music Department of the National Taiwan Normal University. Ms. Niu earned a Master’s degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she also obtained a certificate for professional vocal performance. Besides several famous voice masters, she also worked with Jannet Bookspan and Joan Dornamann, coaches of The Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Ms Niu was an active opera singer and performed widely in Chicago, New Jersey, and New York. She has played major roles in ‘The King and I’, ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’, ‘Don Giovanni’, Amal and the Night Visitors’, ‘La Boheme’, ‘Rigoletto’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, and ‘The Pirates of Penzance’. Her many personal recitals since 1982 have received much acclaim.
Niu’s chorale teaching experience includes the National Taiwan Normal University, the National Tsing Hua University, the Tan Chiang University, the Hsin Chu Teacher’s College,the Joy Chorale in Chicago, the Happy Singers, and the Happy Junior in Princeton, the Joy Heart in Plainsboro, The Chinese Music Voices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She devotes her effort to the promotion of musicianship to the community services and to the young generation.
