Stanford Pan-Asian Music Festival 2007

Stanford (California), USA – Stanford University hosts the third annual Pan-Asian Music Festival February 17–24, 2007. This year’s festival, Drum Beats of Asia, is a week-long celebration of traditional and contemporary music from Asia. Nationally recognized as an important forum for Asian music, the Pan-Asian Music Festival is dedicated to promoting an understanding and appreciation of music in contemporary Asia through a series of concerts, commissions, artist residencies, and lecture-demonstrations.

The festival was founded by Stanford Professor Jindong Cai, Music Director of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and a passionate proponent of new music. Professor Cai believes, “the best way to understand other cultures is through their art. Though our world is ever more globalized, the things that bring us together are often overlooked, sometimes in favor of politics and conflicts. I hope the festival can contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of the music and people of Asia.”World-renowned drummers Zakir Hussain, Kenny Endo, Anandan Sivamani, Kyaw-Kyaw Naing, and Jin Hi Kim will showcase their talents and unique drumming styles. Also featured during the festival are Abbos Kosimov, renowned doira player from Uzbekistan; Vince Delgado and Anthony Brown, Asian-jazz fusion drummers; Chan E. Park, Korean drumming and story-telling P’ansori performer; and others.

A special performance by the 16-member Drum and Dance Ensemble of the National College of Dramatic Arts from Bangkok offers a rare opportunity to experience the rich drumming and dance traditions from all the regions of Thailand.

Stanford Taiko will join the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble in a world premiere performance of a newly commissioned work, presented in partnership with Stanford Lively Arts. The Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford New Ensemble, under the direction of Maestro Jindong Cai, will also perform new compositions, including the world premieres of two works by Jin Hi Kim and Jingjing Luo; a pipa concerto by Zhou Long; and a composition by E. Takeo Kudo specifically written for Taiko master Kenny Endo.

All concerts are at Stanford University venues. Tickets can be purchased through the Stanford Ticket Office (650) 725-ARTS(2787). Ticket prices are $5 – $44 with discounts for groups of 10 or more. Several events are free. Details at http://panasianmusicfestival.stanford.edu.