Acclaimed Chinese musician to perform

Jiebing Chen, one of the world?s foremost players of the Chinese erhu, will perform Thursday, Nov. 1, in Filene Hall at Skidmore College. The performance begins at 8 p.m. and is open to the public. General admission is $5, or $2 for seniors and students.

Known for her mastery of classical Chinese repertory on the erhu, or two-stringed violin, Chen was a child prodigy in her native Shanghai, surviving the Chinese Cultural Revolution at age nine by performing with the Chinese Navy Orchestra. Chen also broadened the horizons of her instrument through contemporary innovation. She has performed with prominent American jazz musicians including the Billy Taylor Trio, percussionist Max Roach, the Jon Jang Sextet, and Indian guitarist Vishwa Bhaatt.

Chen's work received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album for her jazz improvisations with Bela Fleck and Bhatt. She also was the first to bring the erhu in the symphonic concert hall, performing as a featured soloist.

Accompanying Chen in the Filene Concert Series event will be Yangqin Zhao, who was named prophetically for the yangqin, or Chinese dulcimer, on which she is considered an expert.

The performance, the latest in Skidmore?s Filene Concert Series, is made possible with support from Skidmore?s Intercultural and Global Understanding Task Force.