Concert Series Adds Soundtrack to Silk Screen Festival
4/12/2007 Filed under Press Releases
Contact: Olivia Ciummo
412-322-3300 x114
ociummo@ silkscreenfestival.org
Concert Series Adds Soundtrack to Silk Screen Festival
Pittsburgh’s Asian Festival Features International Films & Concerts in May
Pittsburgh, PA – April 12, 2007 – Last May the Silk Screen Festival debuted in Pittsburgh
offering 20 diverse films from Asian and Asian American film makers. This year, organizers
have set their sight higher in hopes to establish Silk Screen as the pre-eminent international
festival celebrating Asian culture. The logical addition for this year’s program -- which runs
from May 11th through May 20th --was to add a slate of diverse and world class concerts to the
10 day celebration.
Three concerts – which will all be held at the Carnegie Lecture Hall –feature prominent
musicians from India, Japan and China. All of the concerts are presented in association with
the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
On Sunday May 13th Indian performer SUPHALA will bring her Tabla beats to Pittsburgh.
Suphala is a protégé of the great Tabla masters Ustad Allarakha and Zakir Hussain.
Suphala begins with the Tabla, a traditional Indian percussion instrument, and creates
avant-garde compositions that merge a digital landscape with an infusion of orchestral
music. With her unique sound, Suphala is sought after to work with many well known
musicians. In fact she has collaborated with artists such as Norah Jones, Sean Lennon,
and even hip-hop producer Timbaland. Suphala’s concert begins at 3 pm.
MASAYO ISHIGURE with Koto and Shakuhachi Ensemble MIYABI visit Pittsburgh for an
evening of traditional Japanese music on Thursday May 17th at 7:30 PM. Masayo Ishigure
recorded the koto music for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and has collaborated
with many symphony orchestras and musicians such as Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and
composer John Williams. She also performed Koto music in the film Memoirs of a Geisha.
Masayo Ishigure’s concert is presented in association of the Japan-American Society of
Pennsylvania.
The concert series concludes on Saturday May 19th with the Chinese music ensemble
MELODY OF DRAGON. Melody of Dragon is based in New York City and was founded by
four virtuoso musicians in order to introduce and promote Chinese music. Each of these
talented musicians has performed individually on the film soundtracks for Seven Years in
Tibet and Hero. They also have collaborated with world-renowned symphony orchestras
and musicians such as violinist Itzhak Perlman. Their concert begins at 7:30 PM. Since
Melody of Dragon’s ultimate purpose is to build a bridge of musical and cultural
exchange between China and the United States, they are also offering a free lecture
and demonstration at the Carnegie Lecture Hall from 3PM to 4:30PM on May 19th.
Melody of Dragon’s appearance is co-sponsored by Harmonizing!
In addition to this impressive musical roster, Silk Screen is again screening about 20 Asian films
– many of which have won numerous awards. Silk Screen will kick off this year’s festival with a
Opening Night Gala on May 12th showcasing the vast diversity of the Asian creative spirit.
Tickets for the concerts are $25 each. Tickets for the films are $8 dollars at the door. Before
the festival begins, film goers can purchase a film pass for $50 that will give them 8 admissions
to the films. For more information about the concerts, films, and Gala or to purchase tickets,
please visit the Silk Screen website at: www.silkscreenfestival.org.
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