WWU co-sponsoring Bellingham Chinese Cultural Festival Concert this Saturday

Western Associate Professor of Music Tim Fitzpatrick and Western’s Choirs, in cooperation with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra and director Roger Briggs, will participate in a unique cultural and musical exchange featuring a 150-voice and full orchestra performing a collection of works entitled “Yellow River” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 3 at the Mount Baker Theatre. The various movements draw on popular Chinese folksongs meant to uplift the spirit of occupied China during World War II. The Chinese Culture Festival is the creation of the Pacific Northwest Cultural Exchange Council and features an evening of diverse works celebrating Chinese culture through music. This is the fourth such festival that has been put on in the Northwest. Western's Music Department was invited to participate by Austin Huang and Lily Yang, members of the local community. The rehearsal of the work has been a tremendous experience for WWU music students, requiring intense study of Mandarin Chinese dialect and an immersion into the culture and history of China. Understanding the profound changes in the relationship between the United States and China since World War II has been an important component in the learning process. We are excited to have the opportunity to sing this music. Tim Fitzpatrick will be conducting the mass choir and orchestra.