Chicago AAPI Month Concerts

Tzu-Tsen Wu poses holding a ruan, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument resembling a banjo

Tzu-Tsen Wu holds a ruan

Honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with these exciting, eye-opening, and wide-ranging events from all around the Chicago area.

Keiko Green’s Gorgeous

5/1-6/7: Raven Theatre, $30.00
The Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and the Raven Theatre join forces to present Keiko Green’s comedic drama Gorgeous, with performances running all AAPI month.

Korean Children’s Day Celebration

5/3: Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, $10.00
Games, music, and stories honoring South Korea’s Children’s Day. All ages are encouraged to attend, with free admission for children!

Music of Cambodia

5/3: Chicago Public Library, free
Artists welcome audiences of all ages to witness demonstrations and performances of traditional Cambodian music.

World Music Wednesdays: Tzu-Tsen Wu

5/7: Old Town School, free
Chicago-based, Taiwan-born multi-instrumentalist Tzu-Tsen Wu specializies in the Chinese plucked string instrument Zhong Ruan. She takes the Old Town School stage for this installment of the World Music Wednesday concert series.

Defiant Silk: A Pan-Asian Cabaret Festival

5/9-5/18: Newport Theatre, $20.00
A series of variety shows featuring traditional music, burlesque, drag, cultural dances, and other types of performances

Masala Fest

5/10: India Hub, Schaumburg, IL, free
Celebrate South Asian culture through a variety of different forms, including food vendors, live music, dance performances, community gathering, and a special Holi celebration.

Queerness in South Asian Classical Arts

5/10: South Asia Institute, $20.00
Artists sharing music and dance over the years that showcase how queer narratives have always existed in South Asian culture.

Sikhs in Storytelling

5/11: Copernicus Center, $30.00
A festival celebrating Sikh contributions in music, art, storytelling, and business

28th Annual Asian American Showcase

5/16-5/22: Gene Siskel Film Center, free
A film festival celebrating Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander films from a variety of different directors and genres.

Korean Music Fridays

5/16: Constellation Chicago, $22.80
Traditional Korean sounds will fill Constellation in this year’s edition of the Korean Performing arts Institute of Chicago’s annual series.

Guzheng Music Appreciation

5/17: Chinatown Public Library, free
Menghua Guan demonstrates the full range of possibilities of the Chinese zither guzheng in this performance at the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

South Asian Classical Music Talk and Workshop

5/17: South Asia Institute, free
Alam Khan, Professor of Indian Music at Cal Arts, hosts a workshop diving into the basics of ragas and South Asian classical music. The workshop is following by music illustrating points made during the presentation.

Yatra: A Classical Exploration

5/20: FXK Theatre in Reynolds Club, $10.00
UChicago graduate students Sindhu Senthil, Sanvitha Sridhar, Harsha M M, and Srinaath Perangur present an evening of indian classical music and dance.