Upcoming Events

The Festival opener showcases the world premiere of Beyond the Golden Gate, an innovative exploration of how Chinese Americans have shaped our country, featuring live music (performed by Kronos with pipa virtuoso Wu Man) and a moderated conversation between Cantonese Australian vocalist Charmaine Lee and SF-based community activist David Lei. The program also includes a tribute to avant-jazz pioneer Sun Ra with a world premiere piece by Zachary James Watkins and a mash-up composition by Sun Ra, Terry Riley, and Sara Miyamoto; plus new works by Sahba Aminikia and Aleksandra Vrebalov.

[Program update, April 15, 2024: Journalist Brooke Gladstone had originally been scheduled to participate in this work. She will now take part instead in Active Radio in Program 2 on Friday, June 21.]

PROGRAM 1

Kronos Quartet with special guests Charmaine Lee, David Lei, and Wu Man

Philip Glass (arr. Brian Carpenter) / Piano Etude No. 6 +

Sahba Aminikia / Chāhār Fasl (Four Seasons): Tābestān (Summer) **

with visuals by Kevork Mourad

Zachary James Watkins / Black Body Radiance (inspired by Sun Ra) *  world premiere

Sun Ra, Terry Riley & Sara Miyamoto (arr. Paul Wiancko) / Kiss Yo’ Ass Goodbye *

Aleksandra Vrebalov / Gold Came From Space **

INTERMISSION

Marvel Jem Roth / lens *  world premiere

Haeon Lee / dusting off *  world premiere

Beyond the Golden Gate * world premiere

featuring Wu Man, pipa, and
David Lei in conversation with Charmaine Lee
with music by Dai Wei and others to be announced