One thousand performers, primarily representing Chinese and American culture, will present “Friendship Lasts Forever,” a two-hour gala concert at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago, on Sunday, September 17. The cast includes a leading pop music artist from China, a 100-piece concert band, a 400-voice massed choir, a 400-piece massed band, and 100 dancers in traditional Chinese attire. The performers represent 40 different groups and come from seven states, China, and India.
The Plymouth High School concert bands, under the direction of Bryan Ames, have been selected to be a performing ensemble in what has been called one of the major Chinese cultural events of the year. “We are very excited to be included in this event and are looking forward to this performance. Our students have been working hard since school began to prepare for this event,” said Ames.
“Friendship Lasts Forever” is a great example of music education in action, and is a model for international harmony and world peace.
One of the conductors for the concert is Jeffrey Scott Doebler, the founder and conductor of Windiana Concert Band, and director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University. Dr. Doebler is a former president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association and the Indiana Music Education Association.
Dr. Doebler has visited China twelve times. All were teaching trips, and nine of the twelve were concert tours with Windiana Concert Band. Windiana has performed for the national conventions of the Association of Concert Bands and the National Chinese Language Conference.
The Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band has toured the USA, Canada, and three times to Malta, including a private concert for the president of Malta. They have also performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and Severance Hall in Cleveland.
Selected repertoire includes…
Festive in Village, which is a famous Chinese composition arranged by the former conductor of the premier military band in China.
Cloud Gate by Timothy Loest: Mr. Loest is a music educator from Itasca who plans to attend the performance. Of course, “Cloud Gate” is the sculpture known as “The Bean,” which is on display next to Pritzker Pavilion.
“Fugue on Yankee Doodle” by John Philip Sousa: Part of this work was performed by Maestro Sousa and his band for the 1893 world’s fair in Chicago. “September” by Chicago-based Earth, Wind, and Fire.
The concert’s grand finale will feature three selections performed by all 1,000 of the festivalparticipants: the famous Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower,” the epic Chinese television theme “Song of Heroes,” and “Friendship Lasts Forever (Auld Lang Syne),” which was made popular in China by the American film “Waterloo Bridge.”
A special guest performances will include Zun Huo, Chinese popular music artist and national singing champion.
Professional ensembles will include:
Windiana Concert Band
Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band
Meifeng Chinese Music Ensemble
Silk Cedar
The Herald Trumpets of Valparaiso University
The mass concert band will include:
Clark High School Band
Griffith High School Band
Morton High School Band
New Prairie High School Band
Plymouth High School Band
Valparaiso University Luce Concert Band
Valparaiso Community/University Concert Band
Wirt-Emerson High School Band
Dance ensembles and performers will include:
Jiangsu Performing Group
Chicago Chinese Qipao Association
Dongfang Dance Group
SunnyU Dance Group
Chicago Huaxing Troupe
YeQing Dance Troupe
Yang Dance Academy
Special guests will include:
Tao Tong, tenor
Gao Ding, bass-baritone
Dan Liao, soprano
Liu Yuening, yangqin
Lalgudi Krishnan, Carnatic violin
Zach Harmon, tabla
Michael Boo, composer-in-residence
Ding Cao, conductor
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conductor
Sponsors for the event include:
Dong Fang Performing Arts
Confucius Institute of Valparaiso University
Confucius Institute in Chicago
Asian Cultural Center
Chinese-American Association of Greater Chicago
Windiana Concert Band
Media sponsors include:
The China Press
The China Press Weekly
Selected music repertoire will include:
76 Trombones from The Music Man
You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel
Dance of the Golden Snake
Raga Jasmine
Fugue on Yankee Doodle
Harmonious World
September
Flower Blossom
Cloud Gate
Les Toreadors from Carmen
The Impression of Tibet
Nessun Dorma from Turandot
Hands Across the Sea
Friendship Lasts Forever
DETAILS
Friendship Lasts Forever
Sunday, September 17, 2017
2:30p
Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago
Free admission
