YSO welcomes guest artist Zhou Yi

The child prodigy began musical studies at age 5.

the vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN — The pipa, an ancient Chinese instrument that predates its family member, the lute, will be featured Saturday when the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Randall Craig Fleischer, performs “The Little Sisters of the Grassland.” Guest artist Zhou Yi, the best-known young pipa artist in the world, will accompany the YSO at Saturday’s concert at Powers Auditorium.

The Grassland concerto musically relates the tale of two sisters sent into the fields to watch over their father’s herd, protecting the sheep from the cold and predators at great peril to their own well being.

Also featured on the program will be Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The Fifth is undoubtedly the most famous symphony of all time. Its iconic four-note sequence — three short, one long — has captured the world’s imagination.

A child prodigy, Zhou Yi began musical studies at age 5 and gave her first public recital at 6. As an 8-year-old, she won first prize at the Shanghai Spring Music Festival; at 12, she received the Outstanding Performance Award at the Art Cup International Chinese traditional instrument contest.

Zhou Yi is co-founder of the Ba Ban Chinese Music Society in New York, where she now resides. She also plays the qin (zither), liuqin (high pitched lute), ruan, (alto lute), sanxian (three string lute) as well as the Western piano.

Following the concert, which is underwritten in part by the DeBartolo Corp./John and Denise York, audience members are invited to a season-closing reception with Music Director Randall Craig Fleischer and Zhou Yi. The cost to attend the reception is not included in the ticket price. For more information or to make a reception reservation, call the box office at (330) 744-0264.

Saturday will also be renewal night at the symphony. Current and new subscribers will have the opportunity to purchase 2009-10 season tickets to Masterworks or Pops programs during the evening and be eligible to win a gift basket valued at $500.