Chinese group to present music, dance at CLC

A free performance showcasing Chinese music and dance is coming to the College of Lake County at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21.

Sixteen Xinlian College students and faculty from the Henan Province will perform a variety of Chinese songs, dances and poems with traditional Chinese flutes, lutes and piano.

The Chinese Chanting Group was established in 2015 and is performing at CLC and Iowa State University as part of a cultural exchange tour.

This past spring, four CLC music students and two faculty members visited China to perform jazz music at the college's American Culture Center at Xi'an International University, as well as Xinlian College, Wuhan University and the Beijing American Center at the U.S. embassy.

Because of the positive connections made there, CLC officials invited the Chinese Chanting Group to perform at CLC.

Dr. Michael Flack, Music department chair, led the CLC jazz combo that visited China along with Dr. Timothy Murphy, political science instructor and grant manager.

"The Chinese Chanting Group is absolutely unique. In fact, I have never heard anything like it before," Flack said. "They combine elements of traditional Chinese folk music with extended vocal techniques, costuming and makeup to create an authentic peek into Chinese culture."

The event is being presented by the CLC Office of the President and Center for International Education at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.

The performance is free, but tickets are required from the James Lumber Center Box Office. To request tickets, call (847) 543-2300 or visit the Box Office. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 60 minutes before the performance. Groups are limited to 10 people.