This Saturday, a rare opportunity to hear contemporary Taiwanese compositions performed by some of Ann Arbor’s most promising young musicians on piano and strings, solo and ensembles. One young musician was warned that although the notes might look easy on the page, to not underestimate the challenge of interpreting music from such a different tradition…and by the way the composer is coming to hear you play his work.

Every year, the Michigan Taiwanese American Association (MiTAI) Taiwanese Music Festival Honors Concert celebrates contemporary Taiwanese music by giving young musicians--who have to qualify through two rounds of competition over several months--the opportunity to learn and then perform contemporary Taiwanese compositions. Last year, a special award was given to Ken Fischer of University Musical Society (UMS). This year, the Honors Concert also features a special performance by Dr. Shih-Peng Chang, D.F.A., and a special seminar the next day by composer Dr. Diau-Hua Lim, M.D. Drs. Chang and Lim are both founders of the Homeland Chamber Ensemble of Taiwan which provides a platform for international tours and performances of many distinguished Taiwanese musicians.

More information available on the MiTAI website:

7th Annual Taiwanese Music Festival Honors Concert Saturday, October 17, 7:00pm. Greenhills School, 850 Greenhills Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Sponsored by Michigan Taiwanese American Organization. All invited to an evening of beautiful music (piano, string, ensemble) written by Taiwanese composers and performed by local music students and guest violinist Shih-Peng Chang, D.F.A. Special visit by composer Diau-Hua Lim, M.D., of Taiwan. Admission is free and open to the public. Please bring a new or gently used kids’ book (3rd grade or below) to help rebuild school libraries damaged by Typhoon Morakot. For additional information, visit www.mitai.org, or e-mail tmf@mitai.org.

Seminar: My experience in Learning, Writing, and Promoting Music by Diau-Hua Lim, M.D., Sunday, October 18, 2-3pm, Boeing Auditorium, FXB Building, The University of Michigan North Campus (at the corner of Hayward and Beal, Ann Arbor)

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Ann Arbor and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village and a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues. Check out her website at www.franceskaihwawang.com, her blog at www.franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com, and she can be reached at fkwang888@gmail.com.