PROJECT THREE

ASSEMBLAGE:
A Concert of Music Featuring Rare and Intriguing Instruments

This concert explores themes of renewal and healing through music for women’s chorus, accompanied by an ensemble of rare and distinctive instruments. The program features seven newly commissioned works, highlighting the guzheng, sitar, shakuhachi, duduk, glass harp, kamancheh, and taiko drum.

Presented as a lecture concert, the evening will begin with an introduction to these instruments—their history, unique qualities, and musical roles—followed by a performance showcasing their interplay with the choir. With world-renowned guest artists, this event offers a unique opportunity to experience the fusion of choral music and global sounds in a new and innovative way.

Friday, April 4th, 2025 • 7pm
TBA

Saturday, April 5th, 2025 • 7pm
TBA

Sunday, April 6st, 2025 • 5pm
TBA

IN-PERSON TICKETS: $30

STUDENT PRICE: 50% off use discount code (student) at check out & show student ID at the door.

Digital Concerts Are Available For Purchase
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Featured Artists

Gao Zimei, guzheng

Gao Zimei is an accomplished musician, artist, and writer who has dedicated her life to sharing the beauty of Chinese culture through music, art, and storytelling. Born and raised in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning, Zimei comes from a distinguished lineage tracing back to a Bordered Yellow Banner aristocrat of the Qing Dynasty.

She began performing in 2008 and studied the guzheng under the esteemed Chinese master Gao Liang. Her heartfelt and expressive performances of masterpieces such as Fisherman’s Serenade, The Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace, The Elegant Moon, Jasmine Flower, and Hometown Dreams have captivated audiences worldwide. With a career spanning over two decades, Zimei has received numerous awards and has participated in prestigious national and international artistic events.

In addition to her musical achievements, Zimei pursued studies in business at Shenyang University and later specialized in art image design at the College of Beijing. After holding an art exhibition in the United States, she furthered her education in art design and music at Sacramento City College. In 2010, she immigrated to California as an "Extraordinary Ability" artist and has since been dedicated to promoting Chinese national art and culture through exhibitions, performances, and educational initiatives.

Beyond her work as an artist and musician, Zimei is also a passionate writer. Through her current and upcoming books, she hopes to inspire readers with messages of kindness, gratitude, and joy while encouraging them to cherish life and the beauty of the world. When she is not creating, Zimei loves to travel, spend time with loved ones, and embrace new adventures.

For More Information, Visit https://zimeiweb.com

Pandit Binay Pathak, sitar

Pandit Binay Pathak is an extraordinary Indian classical vocalist, sitarist, and composer, carrying forward the prestigious legacy of the Pathak Gharana, a lineage of Dhrupad singers, sitar, and surbahar players that has flourished for over 400 years. Coming from one of India’s most respected musical families, he has devoted his life to the rich traditions of Indian classical music.

With a career spanning continents, Pandit Binay Pathak has performed across Europe, Asia, North America, and India, where he has collaborated with some of the greatest maestros of Indian classical music. From a young age, he distinguished himself by accompanying legendary artists such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Begum Parveen Sultana, Pandit Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Alla Rakha, and many more. His music, deeply rooted in tradition yet infused with his own artistic expression, captivates audiences with its depth, emotion, and technical brilliance.

Beyond performance, Pandit Binay Pathak is a dedicated educator committed to preserving and passing on the intricacies of Indian classical music. He provides his students with technical mastery and the hands-on experience necessary for artistic and professional success. Through his music and mentorship, he continues to inspire and shape the next generation of musicians while bridging cultures through the universal language of sound.

For More Information, Visit https://sohinisangeet.org

Marco Lienhard, shakuhachi

Marco Lienhard is a virtuoso shakuhachi player and master taiko drummer, having studied under Master Katsuya Yokoyama and performed with Ondekoza for 18 years. He also trained in fue and nohkan under Yukimasa Isso while touring Japan. In 1995, he founded Taikoza in New York, leading performances across the U.S., Japan, Mexico, and Europe, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Osaka Castle Hall, and Suntory Hall.

With over 3,000 performances worldwide, Lienhard has been featured in films, TV shows (PBS, MTV, NBC, Canadian National TV), and major events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Madison Square Garden's Sumo Tournament. He has collaborated with Kodo members, North American Taiko groups, and Japanese artists, including Southern All Stars.

A prolific recording artist, his best-selling albums include Taikoza, Music of Hayao Miyazaki (1 & 2), Traveler’s Song, and Rêverie. He has also contributed music to the Nintendo Wii game Red Steel 2. Lienhard continues to perform, teach, and compose internationally, bringing the dynamic traditions of Japanese music to audiences worldwide.

For More Information, Visit https://marcolienhard.com

Jonny Rodgers, glass harp

Jonny Rodgers is a composer and multi-instrumentalist performing and recording as Cindertalk. 

Best known for his “stunning” (NY Times) work with tuned glass, Jonny orients his work around unusual organic instrumentation, often manipulating it electronically, to create future-leaning music that feels anchored in the real world.  Never content to stay in one musical lane, Jonny is equally at home writing indie-music, classical art-music, and scoring films.   A musical explorer, he seeks out unconventional sounds that permeate his writing, often described as surprising, wistful, lovely, melancholy, intricate, and emotionally immersive.  As a recent attendee to one of his concerts blurted out, “What planet are you from?”

Raised in the households of an Oxford theologian and then second-wave feminist lesbians, Jonny spent his formative years touring with his brother Stephen Peter Rodgers in the band Mighty Purple. He subsequently worked as a guitarist and writer in multiple touring bands.  Between tours, he studied art-music privatelyin the Yale community, notably Padma Newsome, Fenno Heath, with composers and Deborah Teason.  Jonny maintained a nine-piece chamber ensemble in New Haven until he moved to NYC and then Oregon to write and perform full-time as Cindertalk.

Jonny lives on an Oregon farm with his wife and daughters, where he grows food, raises chickens, hosts artists for residencies, runs the record label Off Atlas, and, above all — writes music.

For More Information, Visit https://cindertalk.com

Sascha Molina, taiko drum

Sascha Molina is a professional Taiko artist and instructor. She’s the Artistic Director of Sacramento Taiko Dan and the Director of the Sacramento Taiko Dan Youth Performing Ensemble. She is a performing member of the international group Jodaiko and the Kasuga Onigumi. Sascha regularly collaborates with other Taiko performers as well as other artists from various disciplines, including vocal performance, martial arts, theatre, and dance.

As a taiko instructor, Sascha enjoys teaching all age groups but focuses on providing youth players with opportunities to grow and learn various life skills through music and cultural literacy. Sascha teaches a taiko curriculum for youth ages K-12 that combines rhythm and whole-body movement with Japanese history, culture, and language skills.

In 2019, Sascha was hired by the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) to design, implement, and instruct a California VAPA standards-based Taiko program for Charter University Prep, Charter Connections Academy, and Charter Home Study Academy. In 2024, Charter University Prep transitioned to a Middle College and is now known as Mountain Side Middle College High School. She will continue with her Taiko program there.

Sascha also works with the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to teach taiko residencies and conduct cultural assemblies in school districts across the Sacramento area for grades K-8.

2024-2025 Concert Projects