In celebration of the Year of the Rooster and San Francisco’s wonderful multi-cultural, full access Community Music Center, pianist, composer, bandleader and teacher Betty Wong will present a number of accomplished musicians performing music from all corners of the globe on a variety of traditional and modern Asian and western instruments. A jazz set by the Randy Craig Ensemble will cap the program.

Community Music Center (CMC) was founded in 1921 with the mission of making music accessible to all people, regardless of their financial means. CMC offers classes for people of all ages, abilities and interests and financial aid to all who need it. For more information, and to sign up for classes, visit the CMC’s website at this link.

Betty Wong’s acclaimed Flowing Stream Ensemble and Phoenix Spring Ensemble reflect her abiding interest in traditional musical forms of pan-Asian cultures with a consciousness of western classical and jazz influences. She has taught at CMC since 1972. Her areas of expertise include Chinese instruments and piano, and she founded the first ensemble classes at CMC in 1978. Wong established CMC’s Pursuit of Excellence concert series in 1990 and has been Director of the series since its inception. She studied with Russian pianist Lev Shorr (colleague of Sergei Prokofiev at Petrograd Conservatory), and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College and a Master of Arts degree from UCSD. Wong was on the faculty of Mills College and SFSU, and was a member of the California Arts Council from 1975 – 1980. She serves on the Board of Directors and is VIce President of the Junior Bach Festival. Wong was winner of the Hollywood Dramalogue Critics Award and is currently working with Light Saraf filmmakers providing music for their Iraq anti-war project. Her CD recording “IN XINJIANG TIME” was nominated for album of the year in 2004. Not only that, but she lives in Glen Park!