The Orchid Ensemble to perform at Wheaton

The extraordinary Orchid Ensemble will perform at Wheaton on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 in the Cole Memorial Chapel at 7:30 p.m., accompanied by the Wheaton Chorale and Chamber singers as special guests.

This talented three-person ensemble -- Lan Tung, erhu; Gelina Jiang, zheng; Jonathan Bernard, marimba and percussion -- has received great acclaim for its distinct sound and engaging performances. Based on the ancient instruments of China and beyond, the group has developed an innovative and eclectic style through the fusion of Western and Asian musical cultures. Drawing on the diverse backgrounds of its members, the ensemble embraces an array of musical influences; their repertoire incorporates the traditional and contemporary music of China, World Music, Jazz and creative improvisation.

The Orchid Ensemble commissions works by composers of the United States and Canada in thanks to their unique style and variety of instrumentation. The Ensemble also collaborates with musicians of many world cultures and performs regularly across North America in concerts and festivals. Recently, they have appeared at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Canada Day Celebrations and the National Gallery in Ottawa, Vancouver, International Jazz Festival and at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre.

This performance by the Orchid Ensemble is sponsored by the Dale Rogers Marshall Visiting Artists Program Endowed Fund within the Evelyn Danzig Haas '39 Visiting Artists Program and funded in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts.

For directions to Wheaton College, go to
www.wheatoncollege.edu/About/Driving.html. For a complete online arts calendar, go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/arts. For more information and updates call the arts information line at 508-286-3300 or email arts@wheatoncollege.edu.