Ayn Balija and I-Jen Fang on Women in Music
Date: 03/14/2024
Time: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
UVA Music Faculty members Ayn Balija and I-Jen Fang will stop by Folk & Beyond Thursday afternoon to discuss the “Women in Music Residency” the week of March 18. The week closes with a concert featuring them both. Folk & Beyond airs Thursday afternoon from 4-7 at 91.1FM and streaming at wtju.net.
The University of Virginia Department of Music is pleased to announce a concert entitled ‘Women in Music’ on Friday, March 22nd at 8pm in the historic Old Cabell Hall. This concert is the grand finale of the ‘Women in Music Residency’ taking place the week of March 18, 2024.
The Women in Music Residency is the brainchild of The Piedmont Duo which is comprised of two dynamic UVA Music Faculty members, the talented violist Ayn Balija and the skilled percussionist I-Jen Fang. Through their initiative and hard work, they are elevating the role of women in the arts and serving as role models for the University and the Charlottesville community.
Ayn Balija and I-Jen Fang, are dedicated to expanding the repertoire for percussion and viola through commissioning music and sharing it with the Charlottesville community and beyond. As part of their outreach, they have commissioned music by three noted women composers, Judith Shatin, Leah Reid and JoVia Armstrong who have built and elevated music composition with their own unique voices while guiding college students to their passions in the UVA Music Department and beyond.
This exceptional initiative highlights three acclaimed women composers, each of whom has crafted new compositions for The Piedmont Duo. This concert and residency is a celebration of the power and creativity of women in the music industry, and a testament to the University of Virginia Department of Music’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the arts. We invite all music enthusiasts to join us for this special evening of innovative compositions and exceptional performances.
The 2024 theme for Women’s History Month is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” and what better way to celebrate than to honor these five talented and creative UVA Faculty women who are outstanding advocates for equity, diversity and inclusion in music and the arts.
