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arts &life
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
A5
Orchid Ensemble gives music workshop
Photos by Kamara Turner
Nicholas Summers nas58@zips.uakron.edu After their performance on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Guzzetta’s Recital Hall, the Orchid Ensemble gave a music workshop as a part of China Week. The workshop was held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and had an intimate setting as they let audience members sit on the stage with them as they played and held discussions
about their backgrounds. The Orchid Ensemble consists of three members: Lan Tung, Yu-Chen Wang from Taiwan, and Jonathan Bernard. They bring together traditional instruments blended together into a very intercultural sound that you wouldn’t hear from a traditional ensemble. Tung plays the Chinese violin, or the erhu, which consists of a stick-like neck with two strings stretched across
it and a base with snakeskin stretched across it. The snakeskin on the base gives the erhu concert hall. Tung has traveled to India to study music and has played across the world in Vietnam and Japan with Orchid Ensemble. Wang played a much larger instrument called the zheng, which resembles a tablelike guitar. The zheng has 21 strings and 21 bridges to ad-
just the tune. In Orchid Ensemble, Bernard plays all of the different percussion instruments. “Some of the most beautiful instruments in the percussion section come from Asia,” Bernard said. Bernard has studied in Egypt, India and many other parts of Asia to build a vast array of knowledge among instruments and their histories. Along with his travels to
study, he and the rest of the ensemble have traveled to many jazz, children’s, chamber, and folk music festivals to highlight their unique sound. Throughout the workshop, students could ask questions about the key they were playing in or how they developed a certain song. The entire experience was an interactive event as everyone was involved in the discussions that were conducted. One student even
brought his own erhu to the event to get some insight from Tung own techniques. Orchid Ensemble’s sound is just as unique as all of the instruments they can play, bringing a very lively sound and energy to the stage with their performances. Bringing intercultural music from their extensive knowlegdge of instruments to audiences at The University of Akron.
Confucius Institue hosts 10th annual China Week at UA Mary C. Barrett mcb77@zips.uakron.edu The University of Akron’s China Week, sponsored by The Confucius Institute, invites the UA community to come and explore the many sides of Chinese culture. The many facets of Chinese culture will be represented in several events taking place starting Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. China Week has a lot to offer those interested in getting get a taste of Chinese culture and lifestyle. The schedule of events includes various keynote speakers including Sherry L. Mueller who hosted a workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 2 p.m., and a presentation by Paul Theroux will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The schedule also includes many opportunities to learn more about China and its cultural distinctions and global
opportunities for one’s professional future. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, students can experience “Global Career Day” of China Week. On this day, each event is dedicated to improving one’s career and increasing their opportunities. There will be several presentations on the importance of global expansion to modern careers and how to incorporate it. Students can enjoy a morning Tai Chi session on Buchtel Commons from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Students had the chance to attend China’s Shanxi University Art Troupe’s evening performance Monday at 7p.m., located in E.J. Thomas Hall. Shanxi University is a university located in Taiyun City, a city 300 miles southwest of Beijing. Those who attend these events can expect to have a great experience that
Photo by Nicholas Summers As part of China Week, the Confucius Institute hosted a booth at the Akron Marathon Runners Expo handing out tea to the runners.
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