SilkBeat is a duo blending Peruvian and Chinese influences through vocals, piano, and the Chinese zither (guzheng). Featuring Strathmore Artist in Residence alumni JChris (vocals/piano) and Qi Yu (guzheng), the ensemble performs with a full band in a program spanning musical traditions of Latin America and East Asia.
Inspired by the Silk Road’s legacy of cultural exchange, SilkBeat draws together melodies and rhythms from Peru and China into a contemporary framework. The repertoire includes new arrangements of traditional music alongside original compositions in Spanish and Chinese, shaped by pentatonic melodies, Eastern timbres, Afro-Peruvian grooves, cajón rhythms, and elements of modern composition.
This free concert at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center is part of Bloom by Strathmore, which strives to create community and expand access to the arts.
