Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra

In about 1982 my Chinese former boyfriend brought an erhu for me from China. I really loved the instrument, but there was nowhere for me to play it except the Melbourne Chinese Fellowship club. I couldn't speak Chinese, and not very many club members spoke a useful amount of English.

A split was forming between those that formed the club for mere friendship, and some musicians who had formed the first traditional Chinese music group there. The musicians were unwilling to accept a low standard of playing just to appease the different Chinese sub-cultures. I agreed with the musicians and left with them to form Chao Feng. The level of English language competence in Chao Feng was so dismal I became their first secretary.

Our first public concert was in 1983 at Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University. I am in the very centre of this tiny picture.

I played with the group for nearly ten years, but became frustrated with my lack of lifelong familiarity with Chinese melodies. I wanted to play western music for a change, and had to leave in order to do so.

Net surfing just over 15 years later in August 2008 I re-established contact with Mei Lam, pipa player. Mei urged me to come to their next concert which was to show off the new generation of Chao Feng players.

The picture below right was taken after the concert. Players are in red and yellow, with "old friends of Chao Feng" at the back.

I am amazed and thrilled that this orchestra, that I helped form, has survived to become an important part of the cultural life of Melbourne. Some of the players were having babies while I was there, and these "babies" are now powering this orchestra into the next decade with an awesome confidence. I am quite humbled by it. It's awesome.

However, their English is still freaky.
Go to their web site and see what I mean.