“Song of Silk: An Evening of Chinese Music and Dance,” which debuted last year at the Anderson Center, will be returning to Binghamton University next Saturday, Oct. 7. The show entertained onlookers last year with authentic Chinese music and dance and promises to be bigger and better this year. Mezzo-soprano Hong Zhang and pianist Pej Reitz, both part of Binghamton University’s faculty, and Angela Chen, a gifted 12-year-old violinist and pianist, will perform specially prepared Chinese vocal and instrumental pieces. Joining the trio this year is Yi Zhou, world-renowned pipa (Chinese lute) artist. Her performances at Carnegie Hall, John Hancock Hall and dozens of other prestigious concert theaters have earned her acclaim for her meticulous technique and expressiveness on the instrument. Interwoven with the musical selections are six Chinese dances by the Cornell Chinese Folk Dance Troupe, one of the best of its kind nationwide. Their graceful and lively dances from different ethnic groups in China will bring an extraordinary visual element to the performance.

The concert’s title, “Song of Silk,” has rich metaphorical meaning. Silk, native to China, signifies both femininity and music in Chinese culture due to its associations with women’s dresses and stringed instruments. The performers are all female, and will don colorful Chinese dresses. In addition, “Silk Road” refers to the ancient route on which China interacted with the Middle East and the West. In a broader sense, “Song of Silk” hopes to bridge the gap between East and West through Chinese music and culture.

The concert is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. in the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Concert Theater. It is cosponsored by BU’s music department, Asian and Asian American Studies Program and the department of German, Russian and East Asian languages. Funding for “Song of Silk: An Evening of Chinese Music and Dance” is provided in part by a project grant from the United Cultural Fund, a program of the Broome County Arts Council.

Admission is $12 for the general public, $10 for faculty/staff/seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are available at the Anderson Center Box Office, 777-ARTS, or online at anderson.binghamton.edu.

For more information, please contact Hong Zhang, director of “Song of Silk,” at 722-2163 or hzhang@binghamton.edu.