Two Musical Groups Honor Asian-Americans

By Tionge Johnson

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, with the emergence of spring welcoming warmer weather. A perfect day for the Asian music spring concert at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Arlington, made up of a small group of performers ranging from children, college, master’s, and doctorate students and professional musicians who have performed all across the globe.

The performance was held in April under the direction of Mira Yang, president of the Asian American Music Society founded at the Kennedy Center in 1989 to promote cultural diversity by blending eastern and western-style music. The Asian American Music Society hosted the event with Opera NOVA, a volunteer-run company in Arlington focused on presenting an educational operatic experience for both audiences and young performers.

The president of Opera NOVA, Miriam Miller, and Yang have worked together on events like the Asian American music spring concert for years. Yang met Miller at one of Opera NOVA’s concerts, and the two immediately began forming a partnership.

“She (Miller) started supporting the Asian American Music Society by first helping us with the Bethesda Summer Music Festival,” said Yang. “After working with her on that, Miller thought it would be great if we could work together on doing something for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She told me that she did a lot of community outreach programs focusing on diversity, which is what we were trying to accomplish.”

Yang went on to explain the strong partnership she has with Miller.

“Miriam is just an incredible person,” said Yang. “All her life she’s devoted to music and opera, and not just the Arlington area, but the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She has created programs for Hispanic and African-American History Month while working with me.”

Those who attended the concert were an even mix of Asian heritage and non-Asian heritage descent. Margaret Liu is not only of Asian heritage (born in China), but a committed attender of operas . At 85 years old, Liu has attended over 76 operatic performances.

“I can’t live without music,” said Liu. ““Music is such a universal language, and so emotionally engrossing that even if someone is told it is too old or classical, they naturally will understand when they take the time to listen. I think exposure to different kinds of music is wonderful and can be enjoyable for all ages.”

Yang gives Opera NOVA credit for showcasing music during the American and Pacific Islander heritage month celebration. “Not many people are engaged with the many cultures that make up America or try and create community outreach programs to help,” said Yang. “Opera NOVA is really fabulous at being able to accommodate us by creating these opportunities, which has been really valuable.”

And for those who attended the Asian American music spring concert, that value proved true.

“Opera NOVA is always avant-garde in presenting programs that are of interest to the community,” said Ana Rosa Peña, an avid supporter and volunteer for Opera NOVA. “These pieces of music at the Asian American music concert were the best in representing their culture. “

Both traditional classical Asian American and European operatic and chamber music were well represented. Yang explained that she has been doing concerts like these for over 25 years, showcasing both modern and classical elements of both chamber and operatic styles.

“I picked out traditional Japanese, Korean and Chinese songs written in the 20th century. Then bridged them all into one performance,” said Yang. “Then we picked out five or six different traditional songs from each country.

Though the concert may have been focused on classical opera arias and chamber music, Yang said she chose to mix “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” with Asian music to express an even deeper message.

“Everyone should have a chance to experience different things outside of what they are used to,” said Dr. Yang. “You can hear and read about various styles of music, but compared to what you really see with your own eyes is not the same thing. Experience, as we grow and mature, is what makes us who we are eventually. And we hope our spring concert gave our audience that opportunity.”