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The final concert of Music in Resonance, organized by Ascend World Foundation and Liu Jiaxin, was a packed house. Through cross-generational and multi-genre performances with teachers and students on the same stage, it demonstrated the power of music to unite the community.
by Tang and Gou Global Foundation andbay area “Music in Resonance – The Finale”, hosted and curated by composer Eric Liu, sold out all tickets within a week, with 400 seats filled. Music masters, young talents and community music groups have joined hands to use diverse styles and rich arrangements to create a concert with gorgeous sounds, deep emotions and communication between generations.
Liu Jiaxin said that since launching Music in Resonance in 2023, he has always had a dream: to allow children, youth, adults and the elderly to find their place in music. He said that when teachers take students on stage, mature artistic experience and youthful creativity inspire each other; Musicians also get to know each other and start new collaborations because of this phase.
They hope to allow people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds to experience the beauty of art through music from different eras and different forms, and create deeper connections with the community.
The concert was hosted by the Ascend World Foundation, with piano sponsorship provided by Silicon Valley Piano. From teachers and students sharing the stage to cross-border collaborations between musicians, the program showcases the charm of music from different eras and the integration of human voices and musical instruments.
Among them, the piano highlight “Piano Mania” fully displays the charm of multi-handed playing. Steinway artist Chih-Long Hu and pianists Chia Chia Shen, accompanied by Anton Achondoa, Joseph Chang and young pianist Anqi Pan, perform for four-hand group, eight-hand group, five-person double piano and ten-hand group, presenting a colorful scene of intertwined voices and competing rhythms.
Hibiscus Trio brings a delicate and evolving chamber music chapter. Pianist Chia Chia Shen, violinist Chia Shan Hsu and cellist Li Tzu Tsao collaborated on the first movement of Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio No. 2”.
The cantata invited internationally renowned conductor Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe, former Director of the Department of Choral and Religious Music and Honorary Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music, to participate. Former national president of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), he has been active on the international stage for many years and has collaborated with the Taiwan Formosa Choir several times.
The performance of the Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra brought lively dance rhythms and strong Taiwanese emotions to the stage. With Ernest Yen as concertmaster, the orchestra not only performed Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances”, but also performed the Taiwanese suite “Souvenir de Formosa” written by Yuchu Liang, which combines “Hometown at Dusk”, “Longing for People”, “Remembering Hometown” and “Small Town Story”.
The Boi Chorus, with more than 30 years of history, performed “Festival Sanctus”, “Song of a Thousand Winds” and “Come Travel with Me” under the conducting of Eric Liu, with Anna Lin as piano accompaniment and Jeremy Tung on cello. From sincere and glowing compliments, to affectionate and far-reaching thoughts, to warm and sincere invitations to colleagues, the rich layers of human voices demonstrate the power of choral art to unite people’s hearts.
The cello quartet composed of Michelle Hsu, Li Tzu Tsao, Carrie Tseng and 12-year-old Jeremy Tung performed the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s “String Serenade”. The four cellos offer a beautiful and soulful world of string music with their sweet hums, sweet melodies and broad resonances. Senior musicians and young novices share the stage, which also makes for a candid and poignant presentation of cross-generational communication and heritage.
Other programs are equally impressive. Charlie Tran and Shen Jiajia collaborated on the first movement of the “Colombian Marimba Concerto”, showing the charm of percussion with bright tone and unrestrained rhythm; The guitar duo of Steven Lynn and Rebecca Yoon brought a bright and gorgeous Spanish style. Ernest Yen and Rebecca Yoon collaborated on Paganini’s “Cantabile”, using long melodies and subtle pizzicato to outline a beautiful and poetic mood.
Young pianist Yichen Guo presented surging sound waves with Chopin’s “Ocean” etude, reflecting his ambition to challenge the classics; April Day fused warm harmony and romantic Latin spirit through the Chinese Suite and “Besame Mucho”, adding a friendly and charming musical flavor to the entire program.
The concert’s opening song, “Theme for Ennio”, was performed by Liu Jiexin in collaboration with cellists Li Tzu Tsao and Jeremy Tung. Through Liang Yuzhu’s delicate arrangement, the warm string sound and clear piano sound were combined into a soulful prelude. Next, OneStop Voice and the Silicon Valley Conservatory of Music Children’s Chorus appeared under the delicate background of Chiao Hui Chang’s piano accompaniment, singing “I’ll Be There/Circle of Life” and “Children of the World” composed by Liu Jiaxin and Liang Yuzu with clear and innocent singing, which exuded innocence, hope and vitality on the stage.
Other programs are equally impressive. The entire performance won the praise of the audience. Some were brought to tears, while others were deeply inspired. This reaction also gave a concrete shape to Liu Jiaxin’s dream. She said she would strive to make every generation listen, foster friendship through collaboration, and let the beauty of music penetrate the community and remain in people’s hearts.
