Mei-Ann Chen (Photo: Simon Pauly)
Throughout the month of May, WFMT highlights Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists and composers through special programming. Take a look at this month's upcoming shows below, plus a range of events honoring AAPI month all around the Chicago area.
May 4, 8pm: LIVE FROM WFMT
Audire Quartet
The Audire Quartet returns to Live From WFMT with a program that includes Beethoven and Schubert.
May 4, 10pm: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Enigma Variations
Conrad Tao stars in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, under the baton of Nicholas Collon.
May 6, 12:15pm: DAME MYRA HESS CONCERTS
Diomedes Saraza Jr. & Victor Asuncion
Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. and pianist Victor Asuncion perform works by Richard Strauss, Nicanor Abelardo and Manuel Velez.
March 11, 10pm: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Fauré's Requiem
Conductor Kazuki Yamada leads the SF Symphony and Chorus in Fauré’s tenderly radiant and humane Requiem.
May 11, 8pm: LIVE FROM WFMT
Claire Huangci
The American pianist gained international acclaim by winning first prize as well as the Mozart Prize at the 2018 Concours Géza Anda.
May 13, 8pm: DAME MYRA HESS CONCERTS
Trio Eris
Trio Eris made up of violinist K.J. McDonald, cellist Annie SeEun Hyung and pianist Andrew Jun Chen, performs works by Reena Esmail and Felix Mendelssohn.
May 25, 10pm: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Yuja Wang & Esa-Pekka Salonen
Yuja Wang brings her dramatic flair and interpretive finesse to two piano concertos.
May 27, 12:15pm: DAME MYRA HESS CONCERTS
Beilin Han-Kim & Tyler Martin
Flutist Tyler Martin and pianist Beilin Han-Kim perform works by Joachim Andersen, Reena Esmail, Carl Reinecke and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
Chicago-Area AAPI Month Events and Concerts
Where Our Voices Unite
5/4 - 5/31: Chicago Center for Arts & Technology, free
The Chicago Center for Arts and Technology features artists of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage for a themed, community art exhibition.
ImprovisAsian
5/6: Fulton Street Collective, $15 suggested donation
Between Heritage and Next Chorus bring together Asian jazz musicians for an evening of dynamic improvised music.
29th Annual Asian American Showcase
5/7-5/12: Gene Siskel Film Center, free
Now in its 29th year, the Asian American Showcase at the Gene Siskel Center celebrates Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander films from a variety of different directors and genres.
The Harmony of Korean Music
5/9: Chicago Public Library Portage-Cragin, free
Attend a free concert of music and dance by SoriBeat, the youth Korean music ensemble, presented by the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago.
Chinese Folk Dances
5/9: Chicago Public Library Rogers Park, free
Enjoy a folk dance performance by the Youth Dance Troupe of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association.
Lou Ella Rose & Friends: The Great Filipino Songbook
5/15: Epiphany Center for the Arts, $28
Lou Ella Rose and SamaSama come together to celebrate iconic music by Filipino composers, using the Great American Songbook as a frame of reference.
Project Onward: Between Us
5/15: Project Onward, free with RSVP
The new exhibition brings art by neurodiverse artists from Chicago and Osaka together in one space.
Minhwa in a New Medium: From BTS to K-Pop Demon Hunters
5/16: Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, free with RSVP
Attend a lecture and demonstration of Minhwa - Korean folk painting.
Pan-Asian Storytelling in Forest Preserves
5/16: Multiple Forest Preserves, free
A variety of performing artists gather across three Cook County forest preserves for a day celebrating various cultures. Artists include Chethan Anant, Tzu-Tsen Wu, Bob Garrett, Tatsu Aoki, Saraswathi Nanganathan, Pak Ngurah Ensemble, and more!
Riksha Returns: A Celebration of AANHPI Art
5/16: Rizal Center, free with RSVP (donations accepted)
This multi-disciplinary evening of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists and performers includes light appetizers.
Asian Persuasion Variety Show
5/17: The Newport Theater, $28
The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media presents their third annual variety show, featuring music, dance, stand-up, and more.
AAPI Heritage Celebration
5/17: Old Town School of Folk Music, free with RSVP
Take part in an all-ages celebration at the Old Town School of Folk Music featuring Amanda Payne, Gloria Leung, and Little Miss Ann.
"Oh" - Indonesia
5/21: Instituto Cervantes, free with RSVP
International Voices Project returns to Chicago with the next in its series of contemporary plays from around the world - this time, an Indonesian play written by Putu Wijaya and translated by Cobina Gillitt.
The People's Treasures - Collecting and Sharing Korea's Cultural Heritage
5/21: Art Institute of Chicago, free with RSVP and museum admission
Explore almost 2,000 years of Korean art with speakers Jiyoon Jo and Yeonsoo Chee.
Ikebana Floral Workshop
5/26: Chicago Public Library North Pulaski, free
Take part in a workshop about the Japanese art of Ikenobo Ikebana, led by Reiko Takahashi of Floral Ashirai.
Tuvergen Band
5/27: Old Town School of Folk Music, free (suggested donation)
A Chicago-based Mongolian folk-fusion trio performs as part of the OTS' World Music Wednesday series.
