FROM ADA ICON - A trio of Chinese musicians will perform traditional music from their homeland during an assembly at Bluffton elementary school on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 23.

The musicians include:

• Yunhe Wang, a recent graduate of Minzu University in Beijing. She plays the sheng, which is similar to a harmonica, and the dizi, a type of flute.

• Shengyang Tong, the father of Chang Tong, a December 2016 graduate of ONU. He is involved with the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, National Orchestra of the China National Opera and the Dance Drama Theater. He plays the erhu, a two-stringed instrument, and several percussion instruments.

• Yang Wei, an artist in resident at the Art Institute of Chicago. He plays the pipa, a stringed instrument.

The trip was arranged by ONU Associate Professor of Music Sarah Waters, who obtained a grant from the Ohio Arts Council to support the musicians’ travels.

“I have always been interested in ethnic percussion, and I have been to China three times, so this seems like a natural step to take,” said Waters, who teaches percussion at ONU.  “In many ways, music reflects a culture. For example, traditional Chinese music reminds me of the cadence of the spoken Chinese language."

 They also will perform at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Ada Public Library. and at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, in Presser Hall at ONU. The performances are free and open to the public.

They also will perform with the ONU Symphony at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, in the Freed Center. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Freed Center box office.