Celebrating the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the California State Railroad Museum, California State Railroad Foundation and the Purple Silk Music Education Foundation are hosting two performances by the Great Wall Youth Orchestra(GWYO), titled All aboard the Eastbound Train honoring the 153rd anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The Great Wall Youth Orchestra will play music heard during the 1863 to 1869 period by Chinese Railroad Workers for the first time since the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The performance will take place at the California State Railroad Museum where people will have the opportunity to see and ride a train locomotive and sit in railcars that were used to transport passengers and goods across the United States.
Also to be shown is a film, titled Going Home. It will feature the journey of thirteen pioneer Chinese railroad workers finding a final resting place in the town of Carlin, Nevada.
The Purple Silk Music Education Foundation (PSMEF) instills music appreciation to young children from different cultures through instruction in traditional Chinese instruments, opera, and folk songs.
Founded in 1995, PSMEF provides music education to 400+ students a year through its school programs and weekend youth programs in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area. The GWYO offers underserved children and youth the opportunity to train with professional musicians, increase their musical knowledge and proficiency, plus perform in community and educational venues. The orchestra tours regionally and nationally introducing Chinese music to diverse audiences.
Two performances, at 1pm and 3pm, will take place on Saturday, May 7th at the California State Railroad Museum. Tickets can be purchased at: PurpleSilk.org.
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