CHINESE OPERA ORCHESTRA OF SHANGHAI PERFORMS @ SUU (CC: Sept 23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/8/11 Whitney Hershberger Marketing and Public Relations Associate College of Performing and Visual Arts Southern Utah University Office: 435-865-8667 cpvamktg@suu.edu FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: CHINESE OPERA ORCHESTRA OF SHANGHAI PERFORMS AT SUU WHAT: Folk music and the many forms of Chinese opera have a profound cultural significance as they represent the essence of Chinese musical art. The Chinese Opera Orchestra of Shanghai strives to preserve and renew traditional Chinese music by making it accessible to people of all ages for not only their region but for all nationalities around the globe. WHO: Southern Utah University, Department of Music WHEN: Friday, September 23, 2011 TIME: 7:30pm WHERE: Thorley Recital Hall, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah TICKETS: Phone: Arts Hotline: (435) 865-8800 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts PRICES: Free and the General Public is encouraged to attend. CHINESE OPERA ORCHESTRA OF SHANGHAI TO PERFORM AT SUU SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Folk music and the many forms of Chinese opera have a profound cultural significance as they represent the essence of Chinese musical art. The recently formed, Chinese Opera Orchestra of Shanghai strives to preserve and renew traditional Chinese music by making it accessible to people of all ages for not only their region but for all nationalities around the globe. The Orchestra will give an evening performance on Friday, September 23, 2011 in the Thorley Recital Hall, Music Building. The performance will begin at 7:30pm and admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend. Under the artistic directorship of Maestro Wang Yongji, the Chinese Orchestra of Shanghai specializes in performing richly crafted arrangements of Chinese folk music and traditional Chinese opera repertoire. Made up of graduates of the top most vigorous Chinese conservatories and arts institutions, their performances are exciting and of the highest quality. Even though they are a young group, their performance and mission has been recognized and honored as they have recently been selected to represent the city of Shanghai in two gala performances at the Shanghai International Expos and they were selected as one of the famous international groups celebrating the 2010 Asia Games in Guangzhou. Their performance at SUU will enable audiences to experience the traditional sounds of Chinese Opera by featuring performances of vocalists from the most outstanding traditional opera companies in China. Audiences will also be introduced to traditional Chinese instruments such as erhu, guzheng, pipa, sanxian, suona, liuqin, sheng, paixiao, yangqin, zhongyuan, jinghu, dizi, and many more. Experience the sounds of Chinese opera by attending the performance of the Chinese Opera Orchestra of Shanghai. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts. ABOUT THE COLLEGE The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespeare Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.