<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13px;" class=""><b id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3354" class=""><font size="3" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_4928" class=""><i id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_5255" class="">Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble at First Night Akron 2015</i></font></b><br></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13px;" class=""><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">This coming <u id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3353" class="" style="">Wednesday, December 31, 2014</u> (New Year's Eve), the <b id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3911" class="" style="">Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble</b> will perform for the First Night Akron 2015 festival.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">The ensemble will perform from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 to 7:45 p.m (same program for each set), in the massive glass-enclosed lobby of the Akron Art Museum, located at 1 South High Street in downtown Akron, Ohio.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">Instruments will include <i class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419798995402_3105">dizi</i> and <i class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419798995402_3109">xiao</i> (bamboo flutes), <i class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419798995402_3104">sheng</i> (mouth organ), <i class="" style="">erhu</i> (fiddle), <i class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419798995402_3106">dahu </i>(bass fiddle), <i class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419798995402_3124">pipa</i> (pear-shaped lute), gongs, drums, and other percussion, and vocals.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">The performance will also feature two special guests:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● <b class="" style="">Shifu Gary Harris</b> (of the Center for Body-Mind Harmony of Tallmadge, Ohio), Chinese martial arts</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">and</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● <b class="" style="">Sandra Emmeline</b> (of the Akron-based band Sancat), voice</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">The program will include the following selections (the audience will be invited to sing along in Chinese for the finale; lyrics will be provided):</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Medley of Folk Songs (Min Ge Lianzou, 民歌连走)</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Erhu solo: Birds Singing in the Deserted Mountain (Kong Shan Niao Yu, 空山鸟语) - featuring Chee-Hang See, <i class="" style="">erhu</i></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Spring River and Blooming Flowers on a Moonlit Night (Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye, 春江花月夜) - with Gary Harris, 24-step Yang taiji</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Small Liu Yaojin (Xiao Liu Yaojin, 小柳摇金) - with Gary Harris, Yin Fu style bagua zhang tight hand form with lu jiao dao</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Let Us Meet at the Ovoo (Aobao Xianghui, 敖包相会) - with Sandra Emmeline, voice</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● The Moon is Round, the Flowers are Beautiful (Yue Yuan Hua Hao, 月圆花好) - with Sandra Emmeline, voice</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Wild Dance of the Golden Snake (Jin She Kuang Wu, 金蛇狂舞)</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">● Auld Lang Syne (Youyi Di Jiu Tianchang, 友谊地久天长) - with Sandra Emmeline, ensemble, and audience vocals</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">Admission to First Night Akron costs $10, and children under 10 are free. An admission button allows attendees access to all First Night venues and activities. Free parking is available in all city-owned decks and lots in downtown Akron after 3 p.m.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">The following link contains a list of locations where admission buttons are sold:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.firstnightakron.org/admission" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3612" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">http://www.firstnightakron.org/admission</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">First Night Akron is a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration of the new year through the arts. It is a major visual and performing arts festival created by and for the community to welcome the new year in downtown Akron on December 31st of each year. First Night Akron is in its 19th year.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">The First Night Akron 2015 venues include the Akron Art Museum, Akron Civic Theatre, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Greystone Hall, John S. Knight Center, Mainstage on Main Street, METRO Transit Center, The Shoppes at Akron Centre, Summit Artspace, and Zion Lutheran Church. There are a few activities that take place outdoors, like the fireworks displays and other visual displays, but the majority of the entertainment takes place indoors. Fireworks displays will take place on South Main Street in front of Lock 3 at 9 p.m. and midnight.</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">Facebook event page:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1473873409567365/" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3909" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">https://www.facebook.com/events/1473873409567365/</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">Official site:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.firstnightakron.org/entertainment/artist/cleveland-chinese-music-ensemble" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_4063" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">http://www.firstnightakron.org/entertainment/artist/cleveland-chinese-music-ensemble</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">Schedule of performers:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.firstnightakron.org/entertainment/schedule" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_4496" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">http://www.firstnightakron.org/entertainment/schedule</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://digital.ipcprintservices.com/publication/?i=234306&pre=1" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_4652" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">http://digital.ipcprintservices.com/publication/?i=234306&pre=1</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;">More information about First Night Akron:</div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.firstnightakron.org/" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_4185" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">http://www.firstnightakron.org/</a><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3010" dir="ltr" class="" style="font-size: 13px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/firstnightakron" id="yiv4538828150yui_3_16_0_1_1419798139731_3269" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);" class="">https://www.facebook.com/firstnightakron</a></div></div></body></html>