SAN FRANCISCO — When the San Francisco Symphony rings in the Year of the Rooster with a special Chinese New Year concert Saturday, Feb. 5, in Davies Symphony Hall, it will fulfill chairperson Jessa Wu’s goal of sharing Chinese music, culture and traditions with Chinese American families as well as with the mainstream public.
“I am so pleased with what the symphony has come up with,” Wu says. “So many of our American-born Chinese young people today have not been exposed to some of the traditional activities of Chinese New Year’s, and this is a great way for them to be introduced to many of the traditional customs.”
Wu moved from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 1991 with her husband, Tommy. Although her husband leads a busy travel/work schedule as CEO of United Commercial Bank, Wu says they both always enjoyed attending the symphony.
“As I would look around the concert hall, I would not see many Chinese in the audience and often wondered why. My own personal interest in music actually came from Tommy, who has had a love of music from his early teenage years. We even took piano lessons together,” she relates.
Past chairperson Margaret Liu remarked that over the years, word of mouth and publicity in the Asian press have increased Chinese attendance at the annual concert to 50 percent. Wu hopes the increasing interest will spread to other mainstream cultural events.
“I realize that sometimes the mainstream community looks at us Chinese as only participating and supporting our own community-based Chinese projects and events,” Wu explains. “So in working with the symphony, I hope to show that there are many of us who work behind the scenes in promoting causes outside of the Chinatown community as well.”
Husband Tommy backs his wife all the way to the bank: United Commercial Bank is the sponsor of the concert. He has also joined the San Francisco Symphony board of governors as well as the advisory board of the San Francisco State University School of Business. A loyal supporter of many Chinatown-based social service organizations, he also served as past president of the Hong Kong Association of Northern California.
“The bank recognizes that supporting local arts and cultural activities helps contribute to the fabric of communities and enriches people’s lives,” says Wu of the couple’s involvement. “We hope the investment UCB is making today will have a positive ripple effect.”
This year’s program will bring together traditional and contemporary Chinese music performed by a blend of Eastern and Western instruments. Resident conductor Edwin Outwater leads the festive program, which features two exclusive pieces written by local composer Gang Situ.
“Echoes” compares the Chinese dizi and xun with the Western flute, the Chinese sheng with the Davies Symphony Hall organ, and the Chinese drum set with Western percussion instruments. Members of the group Melody of China will be performing with members of the San Francisco Symphony. Playing the dizi and xun is Chen Tao; the sheng will be played by Wampeng Guo and Chinese drums by Wei Wang.
“Particularly exciting this year,” Wu shares, “will be the appearance of 9-year-old Tyler Thompson, an African American who will perform traditional Chinese opera. Now that to me is truly a blend of West meeting East, don’t you agree?”
Wu is quick to credit Sharon Seto, festival chairperson, with all of the decoration ideas and preconcert festival activities. Patrons who opt for the special postconcert reception will mingle with some of the musicians over a dim sum buffet provided by Koi Palace Restaurant.
“I hope that this concert will bring out many Chinese American families who might never have experienced a full symphonic orchestra before and introduce them to our local San Francisco Symphony,” Wu says.
An hour prior to the concert, the Davies Symphony Hall lobby will be filled with activities for people of all ages, including sessions with fortunetellers and a performance by Majinga the Magician. Volunteers from the Chinese American International School will teach children Chinese calligraphy, paper folding and lantern making.
“For great photo opportunities, there will be a giant rooster greeting visitors as well as the Chinese lion dancers in their colorful costumes,” Wu laughs. “Now you can see why I am so excited about this concert, which is a product of cross cultures working together to make music and share the rich culture of China.