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Lunar New Year Concert Highlights Zheng and Qin Traditions
The Michigan State University College of Music celebrates the Lunar New Year with a special concert on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Cook Recital Hall, featuring guest artist Dr. Haiqiong Deng, a leading performer of the zheng and qin, two ancient Chinese string instruments. Now in its fifth year, the annual Lunar New Year Celebration Concert is part of the Artist-Faculty and Guest Recital Series, sponsored by WKAR.
Deng’s program, Nature, Music, and Convergence, explores the expressive traditions of these instruments through a combination of solo and chamber works. The concert features Moon Phase, a concerto by Sun Yue written for Deng and performed with a chamber ensemble of MSU student musicians on flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and percussion. The program also includes solo works for the traditional 21-string guzheng. Deng will also share insight into the instruments’ sound, history, and cultural context.
“This annual concert has become a unique and creative addition to our season,” said Yvonne Lam, associate professor of violin and director of the Lunar New Year Celebration Concert. “By including student chamber musicians on the program, it gives them the opportunity to perform in a culturally rich musical setting while offering audiences the chance to experience musical traditions that are rarely heard live. It’s also a meaningful way for all of us to learn from an artist who brings deep knowledge and perspective to the performance.”
Deng is widely recognized for her work preserving and presenting Chinese musical traditions and is a recipient of the 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Award, which honors artists who have made significant contributions to cultural heritage.
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