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Yu-Chen Wang <br /> Yu-Chen graduated from Taiwan's Tainan National University of the Arts,where she studied the zheng <br /> with Dong-He Ling and Hao-Yin Huang and composition with Siao-Wun Jhuang and Chao-Ming <br /> Tung. Performing with precision and astonishing technique,Yu-Chen has premiered numerous <br /> contemporary works by many ground breaking composers in Asia and North America. Her own <br /> compositions blend western classical and Chinese traditional music and place the zheng in combinations <br /> of unconventional instrumentations. <br /> Yu-Chen has appeared as a soloist with the National Chinese Orchestra,the Kaohsiung City Chinese <br /> Orchestra,and the Tainan National University Chinese Orchestra. She has performed many solo recitals <br /> and has toured in Germany with the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra.Yu-Chen was recently a <br /> guest artist with Kansas City's newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, UMKC Music Nova. She is a <br /> member of Compost Q,which performs improvised music across the U.S. <br /> Yu-Chen has won numerous awards:the Gold Prize at the"Golden Lotus"International Youth Music <br /> Competition in Macau,a three-time First Prize winner at the Taiwan National Music Competition,First <br /> Prize at the Chinese Musical Instrument Association's Competition,and the winner of the Taiwan Young <br /> Concert Artist Competition. <br /> Zheng <br /> The zheng is a plucked half-tube wood zither with movable bridges,over which <br /> a number of strings are stretched.The parent instrument of the Asian long <br /> zither family,the history of the zheng can be traced back to more than 2500 <br /> years ago. While the ancient zheng had 12 or 13 silk strings, modern <br /> instruments usually have 16, 21 or 25 strings,constructed of metal,or steel <br /> wound with nylon.It is traditionally tuned to an anhemitonic pentatonic scale, but many modern scales range from combinations of different pentatonic <br /> scales,to diatonic and semi-chromatic scales. <br /> Jonathan Bernard <br /> Jonathan combines his background in Western percussion with a fascination for Asian traditions to create <br /> a unique sound palette, incorporating a myriad of instruments,techniques and styles. His interests span <br /> from orchestral music to contemporary chamber music to World Music. Having premiered over 70 <br /> compositions,Jonathan performs with Orchid Ensemble,Tandava,Vancouver New Music, Fringe <br /> Percussion,Turning Point Ensemble,and has performed with numerous orchestras including Vancouver, <br /> Victoria,Ottawa, National Ballet,CBC Radio Orchestras,and Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra. <br /> Jonathan is the principal percussionist with the Vancouver Island Symphony,and he has performed as <br /> soloist in Tan Dun's Water Concerto in April 2011. He studied traditional and contemporary Chinese <br /> percussion in Beijing,Arabic percussion in Cairo,Carnatic rhythm in South India,and Flamenco compas <br /> in Spain,with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council.Jonathan has <br /> toured in North America, Europe,and Japan. <br /> (photo:Nenad Stevanovic) <br /> Marimba <br />