New York-based intercultural ensemble INTERWOVEN celebrates and integrates traditional Asian music and Western classical music through performing, commissioning, and recording contemporary works. Exploring time-honored soundscapes of Asia and Europe, the ensemble weaves together musical and artistic threads from diverse origins and traditions and intertwines unique Asian perspectives and aesthetics to create holistic, innovative works and music experiences that encourage inclusion and harmony between various American communities.

An exciting new ensemble on the scene, INTERWOVEN made its debut in October 2021 at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City and since then has demonstrated bold originality and versatility in various events and venues: Chinatown Arts Week (NYC); Kansas University Asian Classical Music Initiative; Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn; the Center for Remembering and Sharing at the White Room (NYC) and Chamber Music America.

INTERWOVEN performs a concert (open to the public) on Sunday, November 12 at 3:00 pm at the Saranac Methodist Church on Route 3 in Saranac, New York. The program includes iconic folk songs and historic compositions from Asia as well as contemporary works that interlace the sounds of East and West. Works include Thomas Osborne’s Tumbling from the Ninth Height of Heaven for koto, violin, and cello; Yang Yong’s River Songs for erhu and cello; Liu Tianhua and Chen Yaoxin’s Wildlife Suite for erhu, violin, viola, and cello; Theodore Wiprud’s Mudang for Piri and String Quartet; and Daron Hagen’s Genji for koto and string quartet.

General admission at the door is $20; seniors and students $15; children under 12 free; family rate available. Current public health guidelines are followed. For further information telephone 518-293- 7613, e-mail ambrown.hillholl@gmail.com or visit hillandhollowmusic.org

Founder and GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Keiko Tokunaga brings together seasoned musicians who have been heard in major halls, such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, and their equivalents throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. Their instruments include koto, erhu, saenghwang, and shamisen, as well as violin, viola, cello, and voice.

The illustrious team of INTERWOVEN players includes Matthew Cohen, Alex Fortes, Emily-Anne Gendron, Gamin, Ana Kim, Yoko Reikano Kimura, Andy Lin, Kyle Miller, Hikaru Tamaki, and Sean Wang. All are passionate advocates for the importance of music in social, personal, and political developments, and devote much time to education and outreach. The ensemble collaborates with the Longy School of Music of Bard College not only to create avant-garde multicultural music compositions, but to encourage active dialogue on socially crucial topics such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

During their residency at Hill and Hollow Music, INTERWOVEN will perform and teach in a local school and will give a concert at a residence for seniors.

Photo at top: INTERWOVEN entire ensemble
Photo in article: Yoko Reikano Kimura with Koto

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.