Chinese association holds moon festival concert in cleveland

Chinese American communities in Cleveland held a moon festival concert Sunday afternoon to raise fund for a scholarship for local Chinese students and to celebrate the coming traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn festival that falls on Wednesday.

Xiaoyang Huang, head of the Chinese Professional and Entrepreneur Association (CPEA), who organized the event, said this was the first fundraising event for the local talented Chinese American students in Cleveland. Chinese Americans have become more involved in local communities, and have voices on many issues. The establishment of the CPEA Talent Scholarship is to enhance the relationship among the Chinese in local communities, Huang said.

CPEA held the moon festival scholarship concert at Cleveland State University. Young pianists Yunjie Chen and Jeanette Aufiero performed piano solo. Other young local musical talents between ages of 8 and 16 also won praises for their piano and violin performances.

Mark Otloski, announcer for the concert, shared his thoughts about the concert. Mark noted that this event was a beautiful example of the artistry and musicianship of a variety of students from young to old.

Huang said the CPEA scholarship this year will be awarded to Yunjie Chen, who won the first prize in China's National Piano Competition at the age of twelve. Chen made his Washington DC debut at the Kennedy Center, his New York debut at the 92nd Street, and his Boston debut at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum during the 2001-2002 seasons. Chen also won First Prize at the 2009 International Russian Music Competition in San Jose, California, and 4th prize at the 2009 Marguerite Long International Piano Competition.

Source: Xinhua