By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The selection of musical events this weekend has a bit of an international flavor with a Chinese dance and music show in West Chester, a concert by a Jewish-American singer/songwriter who was born in West Chester and a concert by a dance/pop singer from Eastern Europe.On November 16, Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) will host the Philadelphia Melody Performance Association’s Golden Autumn Gala, a celebration of the beautiful harvest season with Chinese culture.
“We do this show once a year,” said Philadelphia Melody Performance Association’s Philadelphia Melody Performance Association’s Li Hong, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon.
“We have our dance group and our choir and special guest professionals.
On Saturday, the professional guest performers will be Yang Jin and Yinuo Yang. There will also be performances by the Philadelphia Melody Choir and the Philadelphia Melody Dance Troupe as well as solo artists.
Yang Jin is a renowned Pipa soloist, having graduated from world-renowned Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with distinguished honor. In 2004, she won Silver Award in the most prestigious Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music.
Yang Jin is a winner of the Global Music Awards Silver Medal and Outstanding Achievement Award. She has performed in world-class venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center.
Hailed as one of the most energetic, passionate, and respected pipa masters, Yang Jin graduated from the renowned Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and subsequently taught at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music.
The pipa is a lute-like instrument that has been around for over two thousand years. During the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 B.C.-220 A.D.), instruments with long, straight necks and round resonators were played with a forward and backward plucking motion that sounded like “pi” and “pa.” As a result, all plucked instruments in ancient times were called “pipa.”
During the Tang dynasty, the introduction of a crooked neck lute with a pear-shaped body contributed to the pipa’s evolution. Today’s instrument consists of 26 frets and six ledges arranged as stops and its four strings are tuned respectively to A, D, E and A. The pipa’s many left- and right-hand fingering techniques, rich tonal qualities and resonant timber give its music expressiveness and beauty.
Yang Jin has won many awards.
In 2004, she earned the prestigious Golden Bell Award for Music in China, and she won a Silver Award at the Global Music Awards. Jin collaborates with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and has performed at esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Harris Theater.
She is an instructor at the University of Delaware’s Master Players Concert & Festival and serves as a judge for the Hummingbird International Music Competition at the Eastman School of Music.
Yang Jin has performed as a soloist with many prominent orchestras, including the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, 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.
She was also the featured pipa performer at the 2020 Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival for the World Premiere of “Quintet: Four Inscapes,” composed by Ross Edwards. Since 2013, Yang Jin has led various crossover ensembles, including the Pittsburgh Purple Bamboo Music Ensemble, the Helio Phoenix Trio, HarmoniZing, Afro Yaqui Music Collective, J4, and the Summer Breeze Jazz Ensemble.
Yang Yinuo is a virtuoso Chinese five-string violinist with a deep passion for music. She has extensive experience performing both as a soloist and in ensembles, having performed at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Fisher Center for Performing Arts, Woolsey Hall, Curtis Theater.
Her performances have been well received by many. She was invited to perform Ravel Tzigane under the baton of Paul Hostetter, the Grammy Award, with Columbus State University, Schwob School of Music Symphony Orchestra. This concert was so significant that it has been memorialized on the school’s website.
Her performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major Op. 35 was the highlight of the concert season, which was under the baton of Dr. Fred Cohen, American composer and conductor. Ms. Yang was invited as a soloist on tour in southern China in 2015 and has achieved significant success with sold-out concerts.
Ms. Yang released her new solo violin album “Sentimental Romance” in 2024. The album is available on major platforms.
She has received numerous awards for her exceptional talent. She was awarded 2nd Place-National at the National Finals of the Music Teachers National Association (Young Artist Division), and the Gold Award at the Atlanta International Music Competition.
Over the years, she has worked with such renowned violinists and artistic groups such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Midori Goto, Cho-liang Lin, Ani Kavafian, Tokyo Quartet, Brentano Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, and others.
Ms. Yang received her Master of Musical Arts Degree in Stringed Instruments at the Yale University School of Music under Hyo Kang. She obtained her Bachelor of Music Degree program at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, where she studied with Sergiu Schwartz.
Born in Guangdong Province, China, she began taking violin lessons at the age of 5. At age 11, she was admitted into the Elementary School affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music, under the instruction of Zhao Weijian.
She continued to study at the Middle School affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Zhao Wei and Wu Yang, the concertmaster of China Philharmonic Orchestra.
Yang Yinuo will perform Anton Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” and Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons – Summer.”
Later in the program, Yang Jin will play an ancient Chinese song, “Blossoms on a Moonlit River in Spring,” and a Dong Liu composition, “Red Flame Ribbon.”
The concert also features Kelly Ye (conductor), Stephen Li (piano) and Wenjun Guo (choreographer).
Video link for the Philadelphia Melody Performance Association — https://youtu.be/LlwoGPMrL0s?list=PLSa6LT7rA027SgtBVkSc_Ppiu7U1G2iO9
The show at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center will start at 3 p.m. on November 16.
Tickets are $20.
Other upcoming shows at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center are Yacht Rock on November 14, Johnny Folsom 4 on November 15, Better Than Bacon on November 16 and Trout Fishing in America on November 17.
Trout Fishing in America
Trout Fishing in America is an American musical duo from Houston, Texas. The members are Keith Grimwood (vocals, bass guitar, upright bass, fiddle, piano) and Ezra Idlet (vocals, guitars, banjo, bouzouki, percussion).
Both musicians were previously members of the folk-rock band Wheatfield, also known as St. Elmo’s Fire. They took their name from the novel Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan.
The duo has released 24 studio albums through their own label, Trout Music. Trout Fishing in America is known for varied musical styles, with albums alternating between folk rock and children’s music, as well as the contrast between Grimwood’s and Idlet’s stage presence (Idlet, 6 foot-9 inches; Grimwood, 5 foot 5 inches.).
In addition to their music, Trout Fishing in America holds songwriting workshops with children. Four of their albums have been nominated for Grammy Awards.
Idlet was attending college in San Antonio, Texas, on a basketball scholarship when he decided to perform music instead. He worked at a dinner theater in Houston, Texas, and then joined Wheatfield/St. Elmo’s Fire.
Grimwood, a native of Alabama, originally performed in the Houston Symphony and chose to join St. Elmo’s Fire in 1976 when the symphony went on strike.
When several St. Elmo’s Fire gigs in California were canceled, Grimwood and Idlet began performing together on the streets in order to earn money. They also performed for patrons of a local restaurant and entered a local talent competition.
When St. Elmo’s Fire disbanded in 1979, Grimwood and Idlet officially began performing and recording as Trout Fishing in America.
The duo’s debut album, “You Bore Me to Death,” was released in 1979. Its most recent LPs are “The Strangest Times” (2017), “The Dusty Dozen” (2018) and “Safe House” (2022).
Trout Fishing in America was in the first wave of artist owned labels (Trout Records) to successfully record and market its own music. In 2008, Performing Songwriter Magazine chose Trout as one of the top 100 most influential independent artists in the past 15 years.
The band’s recordings have garnered three National Indie Awards, multiple Parents Choice and NAPPA Gold awards, the American Library Award, as well as four Grammy nominations.
“We never got picked up by a major record company, so Ezra and I decided to form our own company,” said Grimwood. “We started our own label and learned how to record at the same time.
“We started playing together in 1976 as members of St. Elmo’s Fire (a Houston-based eclectic folk/rock band). After a while, we left the band and moved to Santa Cruz, California where we worked as a duo. We told people the name was Trout Fishing in America as early as 1977.”
Video link for Trout Fishing in America – https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=byvEJzGlQOI.
The show at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center will start at 4 p.m. on November 17.
Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for students.
Back on the international front, there are Matisyahu and Nini Iris.
Matisyahu, who will headline a show on November 18 at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com), was born Matthew Paul Miller in June 1979 in West Chester.
Matisyahu is an Ashkenazic Hebrew pronunciation of the Biblical Hebrew name Mattithyahu meaning “Gift of God.”
Matisyahu released his debut album “Shake Off the Dust… Arise” in 2004.
For nearly two decades, Matisyahu has kept his creative spirit aflame by evolving his sound, melding genres, and testing the limits of the musical traditions that have inspired him.
His latest release is “Hold The Fire.” The EP’s leadoff single, “Fireproof,” takes inspiration from a fire dream inspired by Matisyahu’s Old Testament religion, which has meant so much to his spiritual and creative life since his recording career began in 2004.
Today, he continues to be inspired by evolving musical trends, finding linkages and loops between eras and genres. Matisyahu’s spirituality has evolved in parallel with his music, though his Jewish heritage remains a central theme throughout his life and music.
Video link for Matisyahu — https://youtu.be/c0FrA6-op-E.
The show at the Sellersville Theater on November 18, tickets range from $59.50-$89.50.
On November 19, the Sellersville Theater will present a talented young singer from the capital of Georgia – Nini Iris.
However, this capital is not Atlanta. It is Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and West Asia.
Iris is a singer from Tbilisi who competed in the 24th season of The Voice with Niall Horan as her coach. She has a unique style of dark pop with folk influences and original compositions.
Featured on Billboard, People & NBC’s The Voice; Season 24’s Top 9 Semifinalist, Iris astounded millions with her haunting rendition of Billie Eilish’s “No Time To Die,” her power ballad version of The Cure’s “Lovesong” and wowed audiences and fans with her show stopping cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police.”
Born and raised in Tbilisi, Iris grew up in a household that enjoyed listening to only traditional Georgian folk music. While living in Georgia, she auditioned and performed for Georgia’s XFactor and The Voice, where she placed as a Top 3 finalist.
Almost a decade later, she auditioned for NBC’s The Voice and placed in the Top 9 of all contestants. While on the show, Iris gained her US citizenship.
Less than a year later, Iris was honored to sing the National Anthem as a new citizen at the first home game for the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Detroit Lions for over 70,000 fans.
Iris’ unique writing and singing style delivers an “Old World” charm combined with dark textured overtones, with an aggressive pop edge.
Video link for Nini Iris — https://youtu.be/GFm9l-M8Pp0.
The show at the Sellersville Theater on November 19 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from $25-$39.50.
Other upcoming shows at the Sellersville Theater are The Fabulous Thunderbirds on November 14, Gibson Brothers on November 15, Alison Brown on November 16, The Brooklyn Bridge on November 17, and John Splithoff on November 17.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is presenting “Songwriters and Storytellers” on November 15, Dan & Joe on November 16 and the Dale Melton Trio on November 17.
Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host Garry Cogdell with Seth Holzman on November 15 and Micheal London & Friends on November 16.
Jamey’s features a popular “Jazz at Jamey’s” on Thursday featuring many of the best singers in the region performing a set from 7-8 p.m. with the backing of the Dave Reiter Trio and occasional guest musicians.
Every Sunday, Jamey’s presents “SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH & JAM” featuring the Philly Blues Kings.
Rivers Casino (1001 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, www.riverscasino.com) will host the on “POP 2000 TOUR” on November 16.
The POP 2000 TOUR features Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC along with the current editions of O-Town, BBMak, Ryan Cabrera and LFO.
Kirkpatrick is an American singer, dancer, actor, and voice actor who is best known for his work as a founding member of the pop group *NSYNC.
As a voice actor, he has worked on numerous kids shows, including voicing the character of Chip Skylark on “The Fairly Oddparents”. In 2022, he competed in Season 3 of “Celebrity Big Brother” and “The Masked Singer”.
O-Town’s story began in 1999, when “Making the Band” chronicled the rise to success of O-Town throughout three seasons of the series on both ABC and MTV.
The group’s first two full- length albums included #1 singles, “Liquid Dreams” and “All or Nothing” and the Top 40 hit “We Fit Together.” “All or Nothing” was nominated for Song of the Year at the Radio Music Awards in 2001.
BBMak Originally formed in 1997, BBMAK (Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen McNally) are officially “Back Here” after a 15-year hiatus.
The multi-platinum-selling English pop group has sold more than three million albums and had hit singles worldwide before disbanding in 2003.
Best known for their self-penned infectious guitar-driven hits “Back Here”, “Out of My Heart”, and “The Ghost of You and Me”, BBMAK was one of the few bands during the pop explosion of the early 2000s to play their own instruments and write their own songs.
Cabrera is the singer and songwriter behind ubiquitous smashes such as “On the Way Down,” “True” and “Shine On” as well as albums including 2004’s Take It All Away, which hit #8 on the Billboard Top 200.
Cabrera was also featured heavily on MTV’s “Ashlee Simpson Show” and “The Hills”.
LFO burst onto the scene in 1999 with the #1 smash hit “Summer Girls” and followed with another top five hit in “Girl on TV” and the top ten hit, “Every Other Time.”
The “POP 2000 TOUR” will get underway at 8 p.m. on November 16.
Tickets are $39.
