FantAsia!

FantAsia! is a vibrant celebration of Asian music, traditions, and cuisine. Inwood Art Works presents FantAsia! Featuring INTERWOVEN Sunday, November 15 – 2:00pm Good Shepherd Auditorium – 620 Isham Street Minimum suggested donation of $25 Adults, $10 Children under 12, or pay-what-you-can online and at the door. Program Sheng-Ching Hsu (arranger) - Battle Horses Galloping for Erhu and String Trio Gamin & Tokunaga Keiko - Sajanoleum: Lion's Blessings for Taepyeongso, Piri and Strings* Jay Reise - Orpheus in Meikai for Koto and String Quartet* Madoka Mori (arranger) - Jasmine Flower for Erhu and String Trio Hung-Ping Apple Chang - In Harmony with Moon and Current for Erhu and String Trio* * world premiere FantAsia! is a vibrant celebration of Asian music, traditions, and cuisine. Highlighting the program are three world-premiere compositions that interlace Asian and Western musical worlds, inspired by ancient legends, traditional dances, and shared philosophies. Join us as we welcome the Year of the Horse together! One of INTERWOVEN'S signature programs, FantAsia, celebrates the sound of the East and West, past and present. The concert opens with performances of historic Eastern Asian melodies, featuring instruments such as the koto (Japanese zither) played by Yoko Reikano Kimura, piri & saenghwang (Korean wind instruments) performed by Gamin, and the erhu (Chinese two-stringed instrument) played by Andy Lin. As the audience becomes acquainted with the traditional sounds of Asia, the program shifts to new compositions that intertwine the sonorities of the East and West, written by American composers such as Hung-Ping Chang and Jay Reise. Throughout the performance, some of our musicians will offer brief explanations, introducing the instruments and sharing the cultural and philosophical inspirations behind the pieces—connecting the audience to the myths, aesthetic objects, and traditions of Asia. Our performances are designed to be accessible to anyone interested in exploring unfamiliar sounds and ideas. While there is an educational component to our program, no prior knowledge of Asian culture is required—just an open mind and curiosity. Bring your family and meet your friends to enjoy an afternoon community concert of classical music. All are welcome! Reception with Year of the Horse light snacks and beverages following the performance. All proceeds benefit Good Shepherd Church - ---- Inwood Art Works presenta FantAsia! Presentando a INTERWOVEN Domingo, 15 de November de 2026 – 2:00 p.m. Auditorio del Buen Pastor - 620 Isham Street Donación mínima sugerida de $25 adultos y $10 niños, o pague lo que pueda en línea y en la puerta. ¡FantAsia! es una celebración vibrante de la música, las tradiciones y la gastronomía asiática. Traiga a su familia y reúnase con sus amigos con música interpretada. ¡Todos son bienvenidos! Recepción con refrigerios y bebidas después de la actuación. Todo lo recaudado será para beneficio de la Escuela Buen Pastor. Pioneers in intercultural music, INTERWOVEN is a chamber ensemble that weaves together the historic sonorities of East Asia and Western Europe. Now in its fifth season, the ensemble draws inspiration from its birthplace—New York City, where diverse cultures coexist and flourish. INTERWOVEN emerged in response to anti-AAPI injustice during the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting intercultural understanding and peaceful coexistence through thoughtfully curated, cross-cultural musical collaborations. Through performance, commissioning, and recording, INTERWOVEN celebrates a fusion of traditions, aesthetics, and communities from across the globe. The ensemble made its debut in October 2021 at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City, supported by the City Artist Corps Grant. Since then, INTERWOVEN has performed at prestigious venues including the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, and Vancouver’s Civic Centre Annex. INTERWOVEN’s artistic mission is to foster the integration of traditional Asian instruments and sonorities into contemporary classical music. The ensemble champions multicultural compositions by commissioning new works from both established and emerging composers, and by engaging with university-level composers and performers. As guest artists, INTERWOVEN has collaborated with institutions such as UCLA, Longy School of Music, the University of Kansas, the University of Toronto, and Colby College. Committed to introducing traditional Asian music, instruments, and stories to wider audiences, INTERWOVEN launched its original community project, FantAsia!, in 2023. Supported by major grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, FantAsia! brings Asian folklore-inspired performances to neighborhoods in New York City and British Columbia with historically low Asian populations. Founded by GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Keiko Tokunaga, INTERWOVEN unites seasoned performers who have appeared on world-renowned stages including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and international venues across Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. The ensemble is deeply committed to music’s role in cultural understanding and social change, partnering with educational institutions to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through performance, dialogue, and outreach. INTERWOVEN Personnel gamin, piri & taepyeongso Yoko Reikano Kimura, koto Andy Lin, erhu & viola Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin Keiko Tokunaga, violin Jennie Tang, viola Hikaru Tamaki, violoncello INTERWOVEN is a recipient of a 2026 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of the Howard Gilman Foundation, for FantAsia!