MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
HODSGON CONCERT HALL
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
UGA Performing Arts Center
University of Georgia Chinese Music Ensemble
Vicki Lu, director
Nicholas Han, guest conductor
PROGRAM
Blooming Flowers and a Full Moon 花好月圆
UGA Chinese Music Ensemble
Butterfly Lovers Concerto 梁山伯與祝英臺
Spring Yang, Erhu
Song of the Northern Grassland 敕勒歌
Dongyang Li and Ziyi Zhang, Vocal
Songs of Joy and Dance 欢歌弦舞
UGA Hulusi Ensemble
Maxine Acosta, Hulusi; Yunqu Tan, Saxophone
Yellow River Concerto 黄河协奏曲
I. Prelude: The Song of the Yellow River Boatman
II. Ode to the Yellow River
IV. Defend the Yellow River
Vicki Lu, Guzheng
花好月圆
Blooming Flowers and a Full Moon (Huā Hǎo Yuè Yuán)
UGA Chinese Ensemble
Composed in 1935 by Huang Yijun, Blooming Flowers and a Full Moon was originally written for a small instrumental ensemble. The piece was later given the title 花好月圆 , a name chosen to reflect its bright, festive, and upbeat character. The piece was originally intended to showcase the sounds of Jiangnan Sizhu (Silk and bamboo) traditions and the title drew on Chinese idioms, metaphors and imagery regarding blooming flowers and the full moon; symbols of hope, prosperity, happiness and new beginnings. In the years following the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Peng Xiuwen reorchestrated Blooming Flowers and a Full Moon for the Chinese orchestra. This is its more widely performed format. We welcome you to the Spring 2026 concert with this festive piece.
梁山伯與祝英臺
Butterfly Lovers Concerto (Liáng Shānbó yǔ Zhù Yīngtái)
Erhu Soloist: Spring Yang | Arranged by: Michael Solomon and Byran Wysocki
Composed by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang in 1959, Butterfly Lovers Concerto is one of the most celebrated works in twentieth-century Chinese concert repertoire and remains among the bestknown Chinese love story. Written to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the concerto retells the legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, a tragic narrative often compared to Romeo and Juliet. In the story, Zhu Yingtai disguises herself as a man in order to pursue an education, where she meets Liang Shanbo and the two form a close bond during their years of study together. Only later does Liang Shanbo discover her true identity and realize their mutual love, but by then Zhu Yingtai has already been promised in marriage to another man. Liang Shanbo dies in grief. On the day of Zhu Yingtai’s wedding, she visits his grave, which opens before her; she enters, and the two lovers are transformed into butterflies.
Although the concerto is structured as a single continuous movement, the piece unfolds through several clearly defined narrative sections that mirror this story. The opening establishes a pastoral atmosphere and introduces Zhu Yingtai’s theme through the solo erhu. The quick and upbeat central section portrays the companionship of the two students, with melodic exchanges between the solo erhu and the orchestra suggesting conversation and growing affection. The music then turns dramatically darker as orchestral tension reflects forced separation, arranged marriage, and Liang Shanbo’s death. In the final section, earlier thematic material returns in transformed form, leading to the musical depiction of spiritual reunion as the lovers transcend earthly tragedy.
Butterfly Lovers Concerto is especially known for combining Western symphonic form with Chinese melodic style. It is scored for Western and Chinese instruments, showcasing the distinct sound and idiomatic textures of both ensembles, while at the same time exploring their combined resultant forms. Featured on the erhu, guest lecturer Spring Yang presents the concerto in a way that highlights the erhu’s expressive range and its unique tone colors while providing her signature interpretation of the concerto.
敕勒歌 Song of the Northern Grassland (Chì Lè Gē)
Vocal Soloist: Dongyang Li and Ziyi Zhang
Song of the Northern Grassland is based on a northern Chinese poem that celebrates the vast grasslands and nomadic life of the region. The poem describes wide open plains under a “sky like
a great tent,” with cattle and sheep moving across the land. These images have inspired many musical adaptations, including this modern concert version. The music also reflects the feeling of the open steppe through long, flowing melodies and spacious phrasing. The composition blends northern Chinese melodies with modern concert orchestra techniques. UGA voice graduate students Dongyang Li and Ziyi Zhang bring the spirit of the northern grassland to life.
欢歌弦舞
Songs of Joy and Dance (Huān Gē Xián Wǔ)
UGA Hulusi Ensemble
Songs of Joy and Dance is a lively work written for the hulusi, a Chinese free-reed wind instrument. The hulusi has a distinct warm and mellow tone, which is produced by a gourd body with three bamboo pipes. Drawing on folk melodies and rhythmic patterns, Songs of Joy and Dance alternates between playful, dance-like passages, and flowing lyrical sections. Tonight’s performance features saxophonist Yunqu Tan and the UGA Hulusi Ensemble. The pairing of saxophone and hulusi bring together two instruments with surprisingly similar tonal warmth, allowing their contrasting timbres to blend while also revealing subtle differences in embellishments.
Yellow River Concerto
(Huáng Hé Xié Zòu Qǔ)
Guzheng Soloist: Vicki Lu | Arranged by: Michael Solomon
Yellow River Concerto was written in 1969 by Yin Chengzong, Chu Wanghua, Sheng Lihong, and Liu Zhuang, based on themes from Yellow River Cantata by Xian Xinghai, composed in 1939. Originally written for piano, the work is one of the best known concert works in modern Chinese music, combining lyrical melodies with dramatic passages. Tonight, it is scored for guzheng solo, bringing a different sound and character to the music while preserving its original energy and structure.
Prelude Song of the Yellow River Boatmen (I): The first movement introduces the thematic material inspired by Xian Xinghai’s Yellow River Cantata. The movement evokes the determination and resilience of the Chinese people during difficult times. The solo guzheng alternates between energetic, rhythmic passages representing the labor of the boatmen and lyrical themes reflecting the natural beauty and grandness of the Yellow River. The movement sets the heroic tone for the concerto.
Ode to the Yellow River (II): The second movement contrasts with the first movement by highlighting the guzheng’s elegance through its lyrical melody. The melody portrays the Yellow River flowing powerfully across the landscape, emphasizing themes of strength and resilience. It is scored only for guzheng and Western orchestra to reflect the balance between soloistic expression and collective strength, symbolizing the unity and perseverance of the Chinese people.
Finale: Defend the Yellow River (IV): The final movement depicts the heroic defense of the Yellow River in times of conflict. Bold, rhythmic themes express determination, struggle, and victory. Tension builds through driving motifs, energetic orchestration, and fanfare-like passages, leading to a powerful climax that celebrates the strength of the people and the Yellow River as a national symbol. The movement ends with a dramatic and triumphant conclusion.
Vicki Lu, Guzheng, Instructor
Spring Yang, Guest Erhu Instructor
Jean Kidula, Course Convener
MUSI48/6870 Asian Music Ensemble
STUDENT PERFORMERS
Maxine Acosta (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Javier Agredo (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Morgan Arrington (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Ashley Belcher (Erhu)
Daniel Boscan (Erhu)
Darin Chan (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Shirley Chen (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Lindsay Fan (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Charlton Hills (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Emma Hu (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Toby Johnson (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Peter Kandra (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Jianing Leng (Guzheng)
Gretta Maguire (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Arthur Radosavljevic ( Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Jodie Stone (Erhu)
Judson Stricklin (Guzheng)
Shayna Suddeth (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Will Tomaszewski (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Lauren Vanden Heuvel (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Emmy Vong (Guzheng)
Yixuan Zeng (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
Elena Zhang* (Pipa)
Micki Zucker (Hulusi, Guzheng, Erhu)
* Guest Student Performers
ATHENS COMMUNITY PERFORMERS
Ling Huang (Guzheng)
Cao Hong (Pipa)
John Tong (Erhu)
Lavender Rafael (Erhu, Guzheng)
Eileen Zhang (Pipa)
VISITING GUEST PERFORMERS
Erhu
Yusheng Hsu
Yang Chun Lu
Longsheng Zhang
Xinquan Zhou
Jiaming Zou (Hulusi)
Guzheng
Rosalie Zhou (Hulusi)
Dizi
Weicheng Mao
Yangqin
Huang Rongfu
Chen Ying
Pipa/RuanBing Yue Ma
Miao Ling
Cello
Ian Chen
Flute
Blair Carrier
Alexia Toma
Oboe
Triston Fielding
Anisa Herbert
Clarinet
Eleanor Love
Ruiwen Su
Bassoon
Hsin Cheng
Tarryn Goldner
Horn
Ava Defilippo
Ebony Nicholson
Ian Welch
Joshua Wood
Trumpet
Cameran Butryn
Antonio Urais
Trombone
Victor Guevara
Jose Vasquez
Ian Wolff
Percussion
Hsiao-Tsu Huang
Violin
Andre Souza
Jocelyn Andronache-Opris
Sage Codispoti
Zhijie Xu
Haohan Yang
Oli Kang
Simms Murray
Brian Roach
Adelmo Segovia
Ellis Kim
Viola
Rachel Liu
Jen-Si Perng
Mason Minutella
Cello
Tianbo Zhang
Ryan Dater
Tristan Dempsey
Zach Helms
Bass
Wueliton Dal Pont
Antonio Peirano
Bianca Wilson
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Nicholas Han made his conducting debut with The Music & More SummerFest Music Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He earned his undergraduate degree in Violin Performance at Central Washington University in 2020, and his Masters in Orchestral Conducting at Oklahoma State University in 2023. In 2022, he obtained the position as assistant conductor for the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony and was the Apprentice Conductor for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in May 2023. He is currently pursuing his Doctoral of Music Arts degree at University of Georgia Athens. Nicholas also held a position as Cover Conductor for the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025. His recent conducting engagements include guest conducting LA Conducting Workshop and Competition Orchestra and Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra.
Nicholas, over the summer of 2022, was selected as one of 3 winners for the ICWC (International Conducting Workshop and Competition) Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also selected as a 1st place winner and received the Audience Prize in the LA Conducting Workshop and Competition in Garden Grove, California. Nicholas will participate as a Conducting Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival in the summer of 2026, studying with renowned conductors such as Robert Spano, Jane Glover, Leonard Slatkin, and Mark Stringer. His principal mentors include Nikolas Caoile, Thomas Dickey, Alexander Mickelthwate, and Mark Cedel.
Bryan Wysocki (b. 1995) is a boundary-exploring percussionist, composer, conductor, and educator based in metro Atlanta. His artistic voice is rooted in curiosity and contrast, where defined structures meet intuitive spontaneity, and tradition confronts with the unexpected. With a compositional sound world shaped by improvisation, extended techniques, and a fondness for playful reference, Bryan’s work celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the joy of creative risk.
As a percussionist, he moves seamlessly between realms - interpreting the nuance of orchestral repertoire, exploring the edges of new chamber music, and championing bold, genre-defying collaborations. He has premiered numerous works and thrives in environments where innovation is both the method and the message.
Bryan currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University and Adjunct Professor of Percussion and Composition at the University of West Georgia, where he nurtures the next generation of musical explorers.
He is also the founder, Executive Director, and Music Director of the Atlanta Contemporary Music Collective, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to promoting Atlanta as a hub for contemporary music by fostering dialogue between composers, performers, and audiences through adventurous programming and collaboration. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Composition from Hofstra University, a Master of Music in Composition and Percussion from Georgia State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Georgia. To learn more, please visit: bryanwysocki.com and/or tinyurl.com/WysockiVisualBio
Michael Solomon. Born and raised in Marietta, Michael Solomon graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2025 with a degree in Music Composition and a minor in Jazz. Last summer, he toured the Mediterranean Sea as a pianist with the orchestra aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Now based in Atlanta, he is an in-demand pianist, recently appearing with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work at the piano, he performs pipe organ regularly in churches throughout the city. He is currently the pianist and composer in the band Jazzmyn.
Wanbing (Jennifer) Luo (罗婉冰) holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia. She studied with Grace Huang, Martha Thomas, and Geoffrey Haydon, and has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Anderson and Roe. Jennifer has received several awards, including the Athons-Hughes-Cook Piano Pedagogy Award and the Edge Undergraduate Piano Competition honorable mention. She teaches students of all ages and currently serves as a piano instructor at Vivo Music and Arts Academy and Piano Works. Her students have earned top marks and awards at festivals. She is active in professional music teaching organizations and has presented at both state and national conferences. Outside teaching, she also performs at weddings and community events.
SOLOISTS AND DISTINGUISHED GUEST PERFORMERS
Yang Chun Lu (Spring Yang) is a distinguished alumna of the Sichuan Music Conservatory, where she pursued a major in Erhu performance and a minor in Guzheng. With a strong passion for music, she embarked on a professional career in music performance upon graduating. Ms. Yang’s dedication to music education led her to establish the Spring Music School, a pioneering institution in Atlanta, Georgia, offering instruction in multiple Chinese musical instruments. As the founder of Spring Music School, Ms. Yang has played a pivotal role in promoting Chinese music and culture in the Atlanta community. Previously, she held the role as the director of the Emory University Chinese Music Ensemble, where she guided and inspired students in their musical journey. Additionally, she organizes concerts regularly for her students, providing them with valuable performance opportunities and showcasing their talents to the public.With over two decades of teaching experience, Spring Yang’s influence extends beyond her school and ensemble. She has conducted workshops and performances at prestigious institutions such as Georgia State University, Georgia Tech University, and Georgia Gwinnett College, spreading awareness and appreciation for Chinese music. Her performances at renowned venues like the High Museum of Arts, the State Botanical Gardens, and the Woodruff Arts Center have further solidified her reputation as a versatile and accomplished musician in both traditional and contemporary settings.
Vicki Lu is a Ph.D. student in Ethnomusicology at the University of Georgia, where she also earned her undergraduate degrees in Music Education and flute performance and her master’s degree in Ethnomusicology. She is the director of the UGA Chinese Music Ensemble and the founder and director of Spring Music School, the only professional Chinese multi-instrument music school in Atlanta, Georgia. Having studied Chinese instruments from a young age, Vicki brings extensive experiential knowledge into her work as an educator. Her teaching is grounded in culturally responsive, community-engaged pedagogy. She believes music education should be a transformative process that encourages students to explore unfamiliar musical traditions while developing cultural awareness, critical thinking, and artistic confidence. Her approach integrates hands-on music-making with cultural and historical context, emphasizing music as a lived social practice.
Vicki started her journey in Chinese music at the age of seven learning the guzheng from Spring Yang and Melody Zheng. She would later travel to China on multiple occasions to learn the Guzheng and Dizi at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. In 2022 she earned the Gold prize in the Nanyang International Music Competition in Guzheng. She was also invited as a guzheng and dizi performer at the 2024 Silkroad Musician Workshop at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, and Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in Hangzhou, China.
She is currently a part of two groups, Kudzu, an Atlanta-based chamber music duo and Jazzmyn, a Chinese-jazz fusion group based in both Athens and Atlanta, Georgia.
Huang Rong Fu is a highly esteemed figure in the realm of music, serving as an educator, performer, and national-level musician affiliated with the prestigious Central Radio National Orchestra in China. His exceptional talent and dedication have earned him membership in the esteemed Chinese Musicians Association, a privilege reserved for a select few top musicians in the country. One of Huang Rong Fu’s notable contributions to the music world is his role as the co-inventor of the 401 yangqin system. This innovative system has since become the standard instrument used by all yangqin players, showcasing Huang Rong Fu’s influence and expertise in shaping the musical landscape. His expertise and contributions have had a lasting impact on the development of yangqin music both in China and internationally. Currently, Huang Rong Fu holds the position of principal yangqin player at the Spring Music School and Taoran Music Ensemble in Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, he continues to inspire and mentor aspiring musicians, sharing his wealth of knowledge and passion for music with the next generation of performers.
Chen Ying is a graduate of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in 1980 where she majored in yangqin and marimba. Her education at this renowned institution laid a solid foundation for her future success in the music industry.In 1995, Chen Ying showcased her talent on an international stage by participating in the inaugural International Jiangnan Sizhu Competition. Her exceptional skills and dedication earned her second place in the professional group category, demonstrating her prowess as a musician. The following year, in 1996, Chen Ying’s career took a significant turn when she became part of China’s pioneering music documentary, “Jiangnan Sizhu.” As a yangqin performer featured in this groundbreaking production, she contributed to documenting and promoting Chinese musical traditions to a global audience. Chen Ying’s musical journey has taken her to various international performances, where she has represented the rich cultural heritage of Chinese music. Her participation in these significant events has not only showcased her talent but also contributed to cultural exchange and appreciation across borders.
