2026
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Monday, March 9, 2026
Jindong Cai, conductor
Bitó Conservatory Building, Performance Space 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
The Bard Chinese Ensemble pays tribute to its beloved music director Shutong Li 李梳曈 '21 after his sudden passing in February. US-China Music Institute director Jindong Cai will conduct.
FREE and open to the public.
Livestream at: youtube.com/live/vUX2qLWqSrk
PROGRAM
Abing 阿炳
The Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond 《二泉映月》
Beitong Liu, erhu
Ning Yong 宁勇
Camel Bells Along the Silk Road concerto for ruan and orchestra 《丝路驼铃》中阮协奏曲
Yuling Nan, ruan
Liu Xijin 刘锡津
Echoes from the Maritime Silk Road concerto for konghou 《丝海流音》箜篌协奏曲
Jiayi Sun, konghou
Wang Danhong 王丹红
Four Seasons in Lingering Garden symphonic poem 《四季留园》
Charles Ives
The Unanswered Question
Download: Bard Chinese Ensemble March 9 2026 Concert Program -
Friday, October 2, 2026
Bard East/West Ensemble and THE RIFT: Opera in One Act
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join us for the opening night of the ninth annual China Now Music Festival at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Led by conductor and artistic director Jindong Cai, this concert features the New York premiere of THE RIFT, a chamber opera in one act by composer Huang Ruo and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang that explores the story behind Maya Lin’s iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That same night, the Bard East/West Ensemble will perform works by contemporary composers Zhang Zheng, Luk Wai Chun, and Wang Danhong. Soloists include soprano Karen Vuong, mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa, tenor Edward Graves, bass-bartitone Daniel Klein, and pipa performer Yang Jin.
The festival is co-presented by the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Follow this link for tickets to the opening night concert: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/10/02/Chasing-Dreams-Bard-EastWest-Ensemble-and-China-Now-Chamber-Orchestra-0730PM
Use discount code NOW57513 to receive 20% off tickets.
For student and senior discounted tickets, visit the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue.
Press Release: View
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Saturday, October 3, 2026
US-China Music Forum: Chasing Dreams
Asia Society 725 Park Ave. New York City, NY 10021 United States 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join us for a special afternoon of conversation and song with composer Huang Ruo, librettist Su Wei, and conductor Jindong Cai, moderated by Asia Society's Rachel Cooper. A vibrant discussion on how music captures the emotion and power of history is accompanied by song--sopranos Lucy Fitz Gibbon and Karen Vuong will sing arias from two major operatic works foregrounding Chinese American stories, with Xinri Zhang on keyboard. Stay back to meet the artists during the lively wine reception that follows!
The US-China Music Forum: Chasing Dreams commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States, highlighting THE RIFT and Men of Iron and the Golden Spike, two major musical works that focus on the sacrifices and contributions of Chinese Americans. This is part of the China Now Music Festival, created to deepen understanding of Chinese culture through orchestral, operatic, and chamber music performances.
The theme, "Chasing Dreams," reminds us that the pursuit of dreams is a shared human experience that connects us all.
The festival is centered on two major musical works that focus on the sacrifices and contributions of Chinese Americans. The opening concert, on October 2 at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, features THE RIFT, a chamber opera in one act by Chinese American composer Huang Ruo and playwright David Henry Hwang. The work tells the compelling story behind Maya Lin's iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial and explores themes of identity and reconciliation. The festival concludes on October 11 at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, with Zhou Long's Men of Iron and the Golden Spike. This large scale symphonic oratorio honors the thousands of Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. The performance will feature an 80-piece orchestra, a 120-voice chorus, and six vocal soloists.
The festival is co-presented by the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Follow this link for tickets to the US-China Music Forum at Asia Society: https://asiasociety.org/new-york/events/chasing-dreams-us-china-music-forum
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Sunday, October 4, 2026
Bard East/West Ensemble conducted by Jindong Cai
TEMPO Performing Arts Center 29 Wurts Street Kingston, NY, 12401 United States 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
As a part of the ninth annual China Now Music Festival, Chasing Dreams, the Bard East/West Ensemble celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by performing pieces from their recent tour. Returning home from a tour in China that took them to 8 cities for 15 performances, the ensemble will showcase their cross-cultural sound through unique arrangements of works by Aaron Copland, Astor Piazzolla, and Jiang Ying, among others.
The festival is co-presented by the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Follow this link for tickets to the TEMPO Performing Arts Center concert: https://tempokingston.org/events/bard_china_ensemble/
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