2005 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS: David Perry/Barbara Webb - David Perry & Associates
(415) 693-0583

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Announces
Music in the Gardens 101 - A Narrated Family Concert
Melody of China
Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission & Third Streets, San Francisco
ADMISSION FREE!
Saturday, August 20, 2005, 1pm

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. July 25, 2005. The 2005 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents Melody of China performing a narrated family concert in Yerba Buena Gardens from 1 to 2 pm on Saturday, August 20, 2005.

The 9-piece ensemble Melody of China performs Chinese classical, folk, and contemporary music. Musicians include multi-instrumentalist Hong Wang; yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) virtuoso Yangqin Zhao; Xian Lu on dizi (Chinese bamboo flutes); Linhong Li on pipa (Chinese lute); Haiyue Zhang on ruan (moon guitar) and liuqin (Chinese mandolin); Gangqin Zhao on guzheng (table harp); Wei Wang on percussion; Zhang Yu on suona (double reeds); and Wanpen Guo on sheng (mouth organ).

Hong Wang, co-leader of the ensemble will talk about the musical synergy created from the synthesis of an ancient cultural tradition and the youthful, multicolored American culture.

Melody of China has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic and Anthony Brown's Asia American Orchestra. Their productions include: Thundering Drums; Shi Jing Suite; Silk Road Suite; Double Concerto for the Erhu & Yangqin; and Thundering Across the Sky.

Upcoming programs in the Music in the Gardens 101 Series are Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band's take on the history of Chicano Music (SEPTEMBER 17); and the 50-member Gamelan Sekar Jaya performing the wondrous rhythms of Bali (OCTOBER 1).

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which takes place from May through October, features over 150 events, including classical and jazz concerts, opera, performance art, international music concerts, dance performances, children's programs, theater, visual arts, puppet shows, cultural festivals, and special events.

All performances and events are free and open to the public, drawing an audience of San Francisco and Bay Area residents, tourists, and convention attendees that numbers more than 100,000 each year.

Free Artistic and Cultural Programming in Yerba Buena Gardens is made possible through the generosity of The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency; The Creative Work Fund; The Bernard Osher Foundation; The James Irvine Foundation; The JPMorganChase Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts; The San Francisco Arts Commission; The San Francisco Foundation; The WA Gerbode Foundation, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation; The Zellerbach Family Foundation; and individual contributions. We gratefully acknowledge pro-bono contributions from MJM Management Group; Steefel, Levitt, and Weiss; Latino Entertainment Partners; LaserCom Design; Moisa & Associates; Pro Piano; The San Francisco Marriott; Sony-Metreon; San Francisco Chronicle; San Francisco Downtown Magazine; and San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Yerba Buena Arts & Events, producer of The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is located at 760 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone (415) 543-1718; Fax (415) 543-1755; website: http://www.ybgf.org
###

Additional Information Links

Festival Calendar

M T W T F S S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events

Mailing Address:
760 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415 543 1718
Fax: 415 543 1755
info@ybgf.org
www.myspace.com/ybgfestival