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Sizhukong, a unique ensemble from Taiwan, rejuvenates Chinese music with a jazz soul, or seen from another angle, infuses jazz and other modern musical genres with a classical feel. The troupe will give a concert in the "Jazz Up" series in December.
Led by Yuwen Peng, Sizhukong was founded in 2005 by a group of innovative jazz and Chinese music virtuosi who come from different backgrounds but share the same passion and belief in music. A composer/pianist born and raised in Taiwan, Peng graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, majoring in theories of composition in jazz and jazz piano. She is dedicated to fusing traditional Chinese music with modern jazz and world music.
Sizhukong has been invited to perform at major musical events, such as the Taipei Arts Festival, the Taichung Jazz Festival and the Jarasun International Jazz Festival of Korea. In 2007, the group released its first album, also called "Sizhukong", which caught the attention of music lovers and critics alike.
Members of the band include Yuwen Peng (director/composer/piano), Toshi Fujii (drums), Huang Chih-ping (bamboo flute and vertical bamboo flute), Martijn Vanbuel (bass), Alex Wu (percussion/huqin), and Joyce Chen (liuqin and ruan). Local musicians performing in the Hong Kong concert include Tsang Tak Hong (bass), Tom Tse (erhu) and Raymond Wang (guitar).
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the concert will be at 8pm on December 18 (Thursday) at the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Tickets priced at $250 and $200 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) Group booking discount is also available for standard tickets: 10% off for four to nine tickets, 15% off for 10 to 19 tickets, 20% off for 20 tickets or more.
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations call 2734 9009. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
Ends/Thursday, November 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:00
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