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Concert set for Saturday Evening, Feb. 5. Art Exhibit Opens Friday, Feb. 11
WOODBRIDGE n A little bit of China is coming to Woodbridge.
In honor of the Chinese New Year, The Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge and The American Chinese Culture and Art Center in North Brunswick will present a free Chinese concert and exhibit of traditional Chinese brush art.
“Since the Chinese New Year is our most important holiday, it’s an excellent opportunity to celebrate our culture and history with our western neighbors,” said Shi Huimin, who is helping to coordinate the events and will act as master of ceremonies for the concert. “This gives us a chance to share the music and art we love with many who have never experienced it.”
The Chinese New Year celebration, the most important on the Chinese calendar, begins this year on Feb. 3.
The musical performance, “Celebrating The Year of The Rabbit n A Chinese New Year’s Concert,” will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. at Woodbridge Middle School, 525 Barron Ave., Woodbridge. The Jin Qi Lin Art Troupe, of The American Chinese Culture and Art Center, and the Edison Chinese Chorus will perform traditional songs from several regions of China. The songs will be introduced in English and performed in Chinese. The program book will include English lyrics. The concert is free, but reservations are required. To reserve your seats, please call (732) 634-0413.
“The concert program is designed so it can by enjoyed by everyone n whether they speak English, Chinese or both,” said Bin Lu, director of the Jin Qi Lin Art Troupe and the Edison Chinese Chorus. “Music is a universal language, but it helps even more if you can understand what people are singing about. That’s why we will explain songs and have translated the lyrics.”
The art show, “Celebrating The Year of The Rabbit n A Chinese New Year’s Art Exhibit,” will begin with an opening reception at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at The Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge. The show will exhibit classic Chinese brush paintings by well known artist and teacher, Hengyi Aixingjueluo, and her students. The show runs through Feb. 25. The exhibit hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. n 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 2-4 p.m.). Admission is free, but reservations are suggested for the opening reception. To make your reservation, call (732) 634-0413.
“This style of painting is an important part of our heritage,” said Hengyi Aixingjueluo, who has exhibited her work around the world and taught scores of students in New Jersey since 2002. “The bold brushwork and splashing ink effects are special to this type of art. It gives the paintings majestic momentum and profound meaning. Even the leaves of flowers and trees seem lively.”
Nearly 40 performers will participate in the Feb. 5 concert. The songs speak of romantic love, hardship, the beauty of the land, love of China, memories of a happy childhood and the pain of missing your lover. They are traditional folk songs from several regions of the vast nation and some patriotic compositions from after the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949.
“We wanted to present a wide range of music,” Bin Lu explained. “For some of our audience, they will close their eyes and imagine they are back where they grew up. For others, it will be like taking a flight to a strange, new and special place.”
The Jin Qi Lin Art Troupe was established in May 2005 by a group of professional artists and performing arts teachers at national recognized musical institutions in China who immigrated to the United States. Its members include amateur artists who have had extensive vocal training and have attained a high level of musical and artistic competence. The troupe has staged nearly 30 performances reflecting Chinese culture and art at various community events.
The Edison Chinese Chorus was founded in 2002 and has given more than 70 performances. The chorus performs Chinese folk and art songs. Its mission is to enrich members’ lives and serve the community through choral singing and concerts.
Bin Lu and his wife, Hengyi Aixingjueluo, serve as the backbone of the Jin Qi Lin Art Troupe and the American Chinese Culture and Art Center.
Bin Lu, a graduate of the Shanghai Music Conservatory, is an accomplished voice teacher and has performed with several major music organizations in China. He directed many professional choral groups in China on the national and local levels. Some of his students have become renowned vocalists and university professors. Since moving to the United States in 1999, he has been active in promoting art and choral singing within the Chinese community. He is also co-founder and music director of the Edison Chinese Chorus.
Hengyi Aixingjueluo is a well known Chinese painter and soprano, who sings folk songs from the Northern Shaanxi and Tibet areas of China. As a descendant of the Qing Dynasty, China’s last royal family, she had access to legendary painters and paintings. She had rare opportunities to learn from the best classical painters China had to offer. She has combined the courtly tradition of Chinese brushwork and ink with modern technique and formed her own style.
Her art has been exhibited in shows all over the United States and Asia and she has won many awards for her efforts. Several museums count her works as part of their collections. She also served as a visiting professor in the Fine Arts Department of Rider University in Lawrenceville.
“The New Year is an important celebration for every Chinese family,” Hengyi Aixingjueluo said. “This year, we are making our neighbors, our audience, part of our family to join the celebration. I’m sure it will be special for all of us.”

