Residents of Washington Heights Celebrates the Year of the Dragon

On February 10th, the night of the Lunar New Year 2024, musical group INTERWOVEN will bring the sounds, stories, and flavors of Asia to upper Manhattan. A multicultural concert and feast, FantAsia! Is set to take place in Washington Heights, a neighborhood where only 2.7% of residents are Asian—the smallest Asian community in Manhattan.

“As a resident of Washington Heights, I realized there are no events that showcase my heritage and culture in this neighborhood,” says INTERWOVEN founder and artistic director Keiko Tokunaga, who immigrated to the US from Japan in 2001. “Our mission as an ensemble is to create opportunities for both musicians and audiences to become more familiar with Asian culture. So why not host an event in a part of New York where people are less likely to know our traditions?”

The concert will begin with beloved pieces that highlight traditional East Asian instruments like the koto (Japanese zither), erhu (Chinese two-string violin), and piri (Korean bamboo flute). After intermission, the audience will hear three world-premiere compositions written specially for the occasion by Stephanie Chou, Vicente Hansen Atría, and Michael Ippolito. An informal 30-minute pre-concert chat with this diverse group of composers will allow audience members to ask questions and learn what inspired the music they’re about to hear. After the concert, attendees are invited to a reception featuring Asian and Western delicacies curated by popular local restaurants.

FantAsia! is funded by Creative Engagement Grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and NYC Cultural Affairs, as well as individual donors of INTERWOVEN.

Date/Time: February 10th, 2024 (6pm pre-concert discussion, 6:30pm concert)
Venue: Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church (178 Bennett Ave, New York, NY 10040)
Ticket Prices: $20/adult, $5 for children 18 and under

Performers:
Yoko Reikano Kimura, Koto/Shamisen/Voice
Gamin, Piri/Saenghwang
Andy Lin, Erhu/Viola
Alex Fortes, Violin
Keiko Tokunaga, Violin
Sean Wang, Violin/Viola
Hikaru Tamaki, Cello

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7...