Mosaic Cultural Encounter presents “The Legendary Vietnamese Zither,” an afternoon of music by Viet Spring Folk Ensemble featuring Van-Anh Vo. 

The Viet Spring Folk Ensemble and award-winning performer Van-Anh Vo will lead the audience in a musical tour from North to South Vietnam, consisting of an excerpt of Northern Vietnamese ritual music and folk songs, Hue royal court music, Southern Vietnamese folk song arrangements, and several contemporary compositions for Vietnamese zithers, lutes, and ensemble.  The program has two 45-minute long sessions and a 20-minute intermission.  

$15 and $25 general seating; $50 VIP seating; tickets can be purchased at Tu Quynh Books and Music, 4581 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, CA 92683.  For more information, contact Danchi at (714) 553-6505 or Nhu-Ngoc at (714) 454-3127.

About the Artists:  Van-Anh (Vanessa) Vo won First Place in the Dan Tranh (Vietnamese 16-string zither) National Competition in Vietnam in 1995.  Her nationally acclaimed career has taken her and her beloved Vietnamese music to international festivals and performances throughout America, Europe, and Asia.  Born into a musician family, Van-Anh demonstrated her musical talents precociously.  She can play numerous Vietnamese string and percussion instruments as well as the keyboard, but the instrument she feels most attachment is the dan tranh.  She now resides with her husband and daughter in Santa Clara, California.

The Viet Spring Folk Ensemble was formed in 2003 in San Jose, California.  Members of the ensemble include Vu Thinh (Vietnamese lutes dan nhi and tu trung), Thuy An Tran (Vietnamese zither dan tranh, keyboard, and piano), Song My Tran (Vietnamese mono-string instrument dan bau), My Thuan Tran (Vietnamese zither dan tranh), Unity Nguyen (Vietnamese zither dan tranh, keyboard, and drum), Chris Brague (drum), John Blake (bass and drum), and Van-Anh Vo.  As dedicated teachers and students of Vietnamese art music, the ensemble's mission is to preserve and promote Vietnamese art music through performances and educational activities. 

About the dan tranh:  A Vietnamese 16-string instrument, dan tranh emits clear, bright sound like that of water flowing.  It probably originated from the same family of the Japanese koto, the Korean kayagum, and the Chinese zheng.  The player wears finger-nail plectrums on three fingers to pluck and glide on the strings.  Dan tranh is played solo or in ensemble, accompanying poem recitation or singing and taking part in different Vietnamese traditional orchestras.          

About MCE:  Mosaic Cultural Encounter, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to share the beauty of cultures in a multi-cultural world.  Since 2001, MCE has brought to the community at-large a wide variety of visual and performing art events.  The list includes art exhibits, orchid shows, pop and classical music concerts, lectures, and themed events such as “Vietnamese Tet” at the 2001 Asian American Expo, “Love” to celebrate Valentine's, “Mom” to celebrate Mother's Day, and “Zen” family day.  MCE events have attracted anywhere from a couple of hundreds to thousands of attendees from all ethnicities.  Most events, except designated fundraisers, are free or with minimal admission charge and are open to the public.  MCE also publishes books and CD's.  Recent MCE releases include Hoang Viet Khanh Songs Collection (2002) and tenor Le Hong Quang's debut CD “River of Childhood” (2003).

*                    *                    *

To keep up with Asia-related events in Southern California, visit the calendar section of the Asia Institute website.  If you would like to receive a weekly email newsletter listing Asia-focused events, please send your name and email address to asia@international.ucla.edu.

Cost : $15 and $25 general seating; $50 VIP seating

Sponsor(s): California State University, Long Beach