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Flying Strings Youth Ensemble is a nonprofit organization dedicated to blending traditional Chinese music with contemporary Western music. The ensemble consists of a group of talented young musicians from across the United States, including the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, and Delaware. Its members play a diverse range of instruments, including the Pipa, Guzheng, Ruan, Erhu, piano, flute, and more. As members of the ensemble, participants have the opportunity to engage with a nationwide community of musicians, perform in various concerts, earn volunteer hours, and compete in prestigious competitions to win awards.
Over the past year, under the leadership of teacher Yang Jin, the ensemble’s members have participated in many important performances, including concerts at Harvard University, Princeton University, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, NJPAC with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, and more. Additionally, they have performed in community centers, libraries, nursing homes, and other venues in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New Jersey, and other locations. The ensemble’s outstanding performances have received widespread praise and recognition.
“Tomorrow Wings” Arranged by composer Luk-Wei Chun, is a unique composition crafted from a collection of popular movie soundtracks. This piece blends a variety of Eastern and Western instruments, including the Chinese pipa and ruan, creating a vibrant fusion of sounds.
A captivating dialogue between the pipa and piano, merging two ancient instruments from East and West into an awe-inspiring musical experience.
With second-generation youth musicians hidden in the audience, an intense, immersive theatrical interpretation, “Ambush from All Sides” creates a powerful surround-sound effect and a dramatic experience of this epic historical moment.
Composed by Shiqi Zhong
Inspired by the treasures of the Silk Road, this piece blends Eastern and Western elements to transport the audience into the ancient mystique of Dunhuang.
Ms. Yang is a distinguished Pipa soloist, recognized as one of the leading artists of her generation. She earned her master’s degree with honors from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, one of the world’s most prestigious music schools.
Over the years, Ms. Yang has performed internationally, collaborating with renowned musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and Richard Clayderman, and has appeared with many world-class orchestras. She has performed as a soloist with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Macau Chinese Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Japan’s Royal City Orchestra, the Chinese Orchestra of the Central Conservatory of Music, the Oriental Chinese Orchestra, and The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. In 2020, she was the featured pipa performer at the Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, premiering Quintet: Four Inscapes by Ross Edwards.
She is currently a Visiting Professor at the Bard College Conservatory of Music and an instructor at the University of Delaware, while also serving as a co-founder and president of the Chinese Musicians Association of North America (CMA-NA).
Since 2013, Ms. Yang has led numerous crossover ensembles, including the Helio Phoenix Trio, HarmoniZing, Afro Yaqui Music Collective, J4, and the Summer Breeze Jazz Ensemble. She has performed hundreds of concerts across the U.S., particularly in major East Coast and Midwest cities, including Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, earning acclaim for her contributions to cross-cultural innovation through music.
Shiqi Zhong is a professional percussionist and music writer. A graduate of Juilliard, Curtis Institute of Music, and Yale School of Music, he is currently pursuing a doctorate in percussion at New York University. Active on the international stage, he has garnered widespread acclaim for his exceptional performance skills and innovative compositional style, establishing himself as a versatile and influential artist in both classical and contemporary music.
Shiqi’s work emphasizes the emotive power of melody and the diversity of rhythm, often characterized by a meditative and narrative quality that resonates deeply with audiences. He is dedicated to advancing the art of percussion, consistently pushing boundaries in his performances and compositions to showcase the limitless possibilities of percussion music.