Guest Artist Lecture Recital
Dr. Grace Wang, Flute
Dr. Hui-Chuan Chen, Piano
Thursday, October 31, 2024 | 5:00 PM
Singleton Center for the Performing Arts
Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall
922 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23284
PROGRAM
Memory for solo flute Chen Yi (b. 1953)
Weathered for flute and piano Jolin Jiang (b. 1993)
(U.S. premiere)
Javanese Court Song Vivian Fung (b. 1975)
Sonate for flute and piano Yuko Uebayashi (b. 1975)
I. Lento
PROGRAM NOTES
Adapted from her original work for violin in collaboration with flutist Mary Holzhausen, Memory is a heartfelt tribute to Chen Yi’s late mentor, violinist Lin Yaoji. Describing the piece as “a painful cry,” Chen Yi reflects on her mentor’s “fatherly mentorship” and “meaningful smile.” This composition weaves lyrical passages with moments of intense expression, exemplifying Chen Yi’s distinctive voice in contemporary music.
Weathered by Jolin Jiang, is a reflective work inspired by the beauty and serene presence of the sea. Influenced by the Chinese Taoist saying, “上善若水，水善利万物而 不争” (“The highest virtue resembles water. Water benefits all things and contends not with them”), the piece embodies the gentle, forgiving nature of water. Drawing from her teenage experiences on the beaches of Sydney, Jiang captures the sea’s meditative and soothing qualities. Weathered was awarded 2nd prize at the 2020 Flute Society of NSW Composition Competition in Australia, and today’s performance features its U.S. premiere.
Javanese Court Song by Vivian Fung introduces a dimension of cultural richness, immersing listeners in the unique soundscape of the Javanese gamelan. Quoting an authentic Javanese court song, Fung used the piano to imitate the gongs and metallophones characteristic of traditional gamelan music, while the flute reimagines the melodic lines of the suling, a bamboo flute. This combination offers a beautiful reinterpretation of traditional music within a Western classical framework.
Yuko Uebayashi’s Sonate for flute and piano is a lyrical work that blends the expressive nuances of French impressionism with distinct Japanese aesthetics. Composed between 2002 and 2003, the piece follows a traditional four-movement sonata structure. Today’s performance features the first movement, which originally premiered as a standalone work titled Piece, dedicated to and performed by flutist Jean Ferrandis and pianist Emile Naoumoff.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Grace Wang, Flute
Winner of the Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition and several others, Dr. Grace Wang leads a dynamic career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator, performing across North America and Asia at venues like the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center. A dedicated chamber musician, she is founder and flutist of the Daraja Ensemble, featured on Maryland’s WBJC radio and multiple TV networks for its innovating work bridging classical music and popular music. Beyond performing, Dr. Wang is a committed educator, giving clinics and masterclasses nationwide and has established a music education program in Tanzania’s TPC area. She has served at the University of Maryland as the chamber music faculty and currently is the flute faculty at The Potomac School and Wintergreen Music’s LEAD Cooperative. Dr. Wang is the second flutist of the Wintergreen Music Festival and performs with the Richmond, York, Williamsburg Symphony Orchestras, and the Choral Arts Society of Washington.
Hui-Chuan Chen, Piano
Pianist Hui-Chuan Chen leads a vibrant career as a concert pianist, chamber musician, and educator, performing across the U.S., Europe, and Asia at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Supreme Court. She has appeared at festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Festival, and the Barge Music Festival, and has collaborated with celebrated soloists such as Amit Peled, Demarre McGill, and Marina Piccinini. Dr. Chen works closely with institutions including The Peabody Institute and the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program and currently teaches at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. For the 2024-2025 season, she debuts her project “Standing on Giant’s Shoulder,” reimagining classical masterworks, and will be recording her first CD featuring works by Dr. Erik Franklin in New York City.