CFAS logo: click to return to homepage (Chinese Fine Arts Society, Chicago)
Chinese language: Chinese Fine Arts Society, Chicago

China Spectacle: Qi Xi DVD now on sale.

By Peter McDowell | Published: November 23, 2009

qixi-iconIn honor of our 25th Anniversary, the Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) presented a week of special programming last summer during the City of Chicago’s Chinese Cultural Week celebration. One of the highlights of this programming was China Spectacle: Qi Xi which we presented throughout Millennium Park on July 19th.

Qi Xi DVD: $35 (includes shipping, USA only)
The items will be mailed to you within 6-8 weeks.

Or send a check made out to “CFAS” to the following address:

The Chinese Fine Arts Society
Sherwood Conservatory Building
1312 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

The Chinese Fine Arts Society is a 501(C)(3) and all donations are tax deductible.

We appreciate your kindness in helping us to present and promote high quality Chinese arts and culture programs.

Get involved – the Chinese Fine Arts Society is seeking volunteers to help with filling out our new committee structure! Please contact Peter McDowell at pmcdowellarts@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us as we embark our next quarter century of exciting Chinese culture programs and initiatives.

Posted in News | Comments closed

MANAGING DIRECTOR POSITION ANNOUNCED

By Peter McDowell | Published: November 18, 2009

072709_9955

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED

The Chinese Fine Arts Society is looking for its first ever part time Managing Director. Please click here for a job description or read on for further information… Read More »

Posted in News | Comments closed

25th Annual Winners Concert on November 22nd.

By Peter McDowell | Published: November 10, 2009

cccdome1On November 22, 2009 we congratulated this year’s first place winners of the 25th Annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius at the Winners Concert held at the Chicago Cultural Center, Admission was free.

Here are links to images, a poster and the printed program for the concert:

Winners Concert Images
Poster PDF
Complete Printed Program PDF

Download a PDF invitation here.

The Winners were:

Garrett Chou, cello
Jonathan Cruz, piano
Amanda Fan, piano
Yoan Ganev, piano
Kevin Hu, violin
Thomas Huang, piano
Ryan Jannak-Huang, piano
Adele Lee, violin
Chloe Lee, violin
Claire Lee, cello
Tabitha Oh, violin
Frank Wu, piano
Josiah Yoo, cello
Joshua Zhu, piano

The Virginia G. Behrendt Scholarship:
“Eastern Sea Quartet” - Ari Barack Fisher, violin, James Gan Stinehart, cello, Mengsha Gong, viola, Mimi Liu, piano

Featuring a Guest Performance from the Chinese Instrument Category: Angelina Cheng, guzheng

WGN radio 720 AM “The Sunday Papers” morning talk show host Rick Kogan featured a preview on Sunday, November 15th of the MFHC Winners Concert including a guest appearance by VGB Scholarship Ensemble Winner and Sherry Tseng, guzheng, guest performer from the Chinese Instrument Category.

Posted in Events | Comments closed

25th Annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Winners Announced!

By Peter McDowell | Published: October 14, 2009


instrument-pi-paThe 25th Annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius took place on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. The Winners Concert was held at the Chicago Cultural Center on November 22nd at 3pm.

Chinese Instruments Category (New this year!)
In celebration of our 25th Anniversary, the Chinese Fine Arts Society introduced the Music Festival in Honor of Confucius – Chinese Instruments Category (MFHC-CIC). It was open to nonprofessional players of all Chinese instruments in any age group. In this introductory year, the MFHC-CIC was run in a non-competitive festival manner. Participants were invited to perform a Chinese repertoire piece of their choice, and wereadjudicated by a distinguished panel of judges. As with other MFHC categories, judging sheets were provided to the participants and Huang Zhong participation points were awarded, but there were no placement awards or cash prizes.

At their discretion, the MFHC-CIC Judges and the MFHC committee may select a participant from the Chinese Instruments Category to perform at the 25th Annual MFHC Winners Concert. This year, they chose Angelina Cheng to perform on the guzheng at the concert. Read More »

Posted in News | Comments closed

Chinese Moon Festival

By Peter McDowell | Published: October 3, 2009
7675ded0087864e5a52347d42167973b

Chang Er flying to the moon.

CFAS aims to be a resource for readers to go to for interesting tidbits about Chinese culture in general and we think the Moon Festival is a great place to start. This information will be found in our Resources section. The Moon Festival is a significant holiday for Chinese people (and Koreans and Vietnamese as well).  It is also a relatively straightforward holiday, with a few fun traditions, and easy to explain.

By the way, the violin piece “Chang Er flies to the Moon” which CFAS used at the beginning of each act in our China Spectacle: QiXi this past July was actually written about the Moon Festival Legend of Chang Er.

Read More »

Posted in Events | Comments closed

Chicago Sinfonietta – West Meets East on October 4th

By Peter McDowell | Published: September 24, 2009
Betti_Xiang

Erhu Solist Betti Xiang

The Chicago Sinfonietta is offering visitors of this web site a 30% discount to attend their opening concert of the season – West Meets East on October 4 at 2:30pm.

The nation’s most diverse symphony orchestra, The Chicago Sinfonietta, proudly marks the start of its 23rd season with West Meets East. Guest conductor Maestro Mei-Ann Chen, currently Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, shares the podium with Maestro Paul Freeman as the romantic impressionism of Europe meets the striking music of Asia. Joined by the young Chicago piano virtuoso Jeremy Jordan and Chicago Erhu soloist Betti Xiang. Read More »

Posted in News | Comments closed

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Symphony Orchestra at U. of C. on October 1st

By Peter McDowell | Published: September 24, 2009

Two Time International Competition Gold Medal Winner Shanghai Jiao Tong University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Cao Peng will perform at Mandel Hall at the University of Chicago on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

Admission is free and the performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. The address is 1131 East 57th Street in Chicago.

Please see this PDF flyer for more information.

Posted in News | Comments closed

CFAS Ensemble on WFMT October 17

By Peter McDowell | Published: September 24, 2009

IMG_9021We congratulate the CFAS Ensemble on being selected to perform on WFMT’s live radio program “Introductions,” their newest series that celebrates the Chicago region’s most talented pre-collegiate classical musicians. The live performance was held at WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio and the show aired for one hour starting at 11AM on Saturday morning October 17th. Learn more and listen to the whole program here. Click on the photo above left to see more photos.

*UPDATE AS OF NOV. 16: The CFAS Ensemble is featured on the CD, “Best of Introductions”. The CD is a gift at the $40 membership level for WFMT. You can order the CD by calling 773.270.2100 or going to www.WFMT.com.

The ensemble is comprised of several Music Festival in Honor of Confucius winners from past years: Mimi Liu, piano, Whitney Young, junior; Ari Fisher, violin, New Trier, senior; Connie Gong, viola, New Trier, freshman; Shannon He, violin, Marie Murphy, 8th grade; and James Stinehart, cello, New Trier, sophomore. The ensemble has recently represented CFAS with live performances at the Evanston Ethnic Arts Fetival and in the Chinatown summer concert series.

Posted in Events, News | Comments closed

  • HIGHLIGHTS

    Your Support is Appreciated!

    Like many arts organizations, we are facing a very challenging funding environment. Any donation is much appreciated! Click here to go to our donations page, or learn about a fun way to become a backer of this year's QiXi production by clicking on the QiXi image below!


    ____________________________

    Enter our Drawing to Win!

    Round trip Main Cabin Air Transportation to Shanghai or Beijing for two, courtesy of American Airlines will be raffled at the Qi Xi After Party. You do not need to be present to win! Raffle tickets are just $10 each or 3/$25 and can be purchased at our online store or by calling 312-369-3197.

    Free Registration ending on July 31!

    CFAS is pleased to announce its Third International Music Composition Competition, “Migratory Journeys.” Prizes will be awarded to composers who create new works inspired by the wandering, resettling, and emigration of Chinese diaspora population through the world. First prize Professional division: $3500, Student division: $500. Click here for links to information and competition guidelines and to register. After free registration ends on July 31, a $25 registration fee will apply.

    QiXi: A Chinese Love Story

    We are honored that Millennium Park has asked CFAS to reprise QiXi: A Chinese Love Story, our traveling performance which made its debut in July, 2009. This year's performance will be presented August 22, 2010 at 2:30 pm, beginning at Cloud Gate. Adler Planetarium will present companion programming for this year's event. Read more...

    Music Festival in Honor of Confucius

    This is our annual music performance competition open to young classical musicians of all cultural backgrounds from the greater Chicago area. The 2010 MFHC will be take place at Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago on October 24, 2010. The new repertoire listing is here!

  • UPCOMING EVENTS

    • Dance and Music at the Dragon Boat Race for Literacy, July 24, Ping Tom Memorial Park.
    • Presentation: “Chinese Astrology - Connecting Heaven and Earth” and preview of “QiXi: A Chinese Love Story” at the Adler Planetarium, August 15, 2010, 3:00 p.m.
    • “Qi-Xi, a Chinese Love Story”, a colorful traveling performance of music, dance and martial arts celebrating the Chinese creation myth of the Milky Way. Begins at Cloud Gate at 2:30 p.m. August 22, 2010, Millennium Park.
    • Music Festival in Honor of Confucius, Music Performance Competition, Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College, October 24.