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Art historian Zaixin Hong examines the enduring significance of the soundscape of music and calligraphy. The soundscape of calligraphy and music is a hallmark of Chinese civilization. This lecture explores their intricate connections and shared purpose, exemplified by Professor Lei Liang’s award-winning “A Thousand Mountains, A Million Streams,” and delves into Chou Wen-chung’s question, “When is a line not a line?” From Confucius’ “Six Arts” to modern masters like Huang Binhong, Pan Tianshou, Zao Wou-ki and Wang Dongling, the connections across centuries between music and calligraphy have bridged tradition and contemporary expression. In the age of AI, celebrating this human spirit becomes more vital than ever. The lecture will feature a special presentation of Huang Binhong’s masterpiece “Landscapes,” shown in stunning 4K projection with original music composed by Liang. Kuiyi Shen, professor of Asian art history, theory and criticism from UC San Diego, will provide a short commentary. Please join us for these events: Lecture in English, 4–5 p.m. Reception, 5–5:30 p.m. Lecture in Chinese, 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Professor Hong will deliver the lecture again in Chinese after the reception. Bilingual audiences may opt to register for either the English or Chinese lecture.) This public lecture is co-sponsored by the 21st Century China Center (21CCC) at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) and Haili Foundation. For more information on China activities, please visit china.ucsd.edu. If you have any questions, please contact GPS Events Coordinator Susan Zau at jszau@ucsd.edu.

1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Film begins at 3 p.m.) Rated PG, 165 minutes Join us for a magical, family-friendly sing-along experience featuring the beloved musical “Wicked!" This free event is perfect for Ozians of all ages. • Come in Costume – Dress up as your favorite “Wicked” character • Sing Your Heart Out – Belt out all your favorite songs with fellow fans • Enjoy Pre-Show Activities – Starting at 1:30 p.m., visit the Ann Kulchin Courtyard for crafts and a themed photo booth • Enter the Costume Contest – All ages welcome. The fun begins at 2 p.m. • Tickets Required – Free tickets will be distributed to the first 200 guests starting at 2 p.m. Seating is limited. Don’t miss this enchanting sing-along celebration at the newly renovated Schulman Auditorium! Bring the whole family for a fun-filled afternoon of music, costumes and community. Visit: https://library.carlsbadca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/13582/17770

Pop culture icons Peaches Christ and Mink Stole share the story behind their decades-long friendship, their love of John Waters and the impact of cult films on their careers and lives.

Celebrate Easter with a festive brunch featuring a curated menu of fresh seasonal dishes and decadent desserts. Enjoy favorites like Carrot Cake Waffles, Steak and Eggs Benedicto, and Barbacoa Leg of Lamb, plus an Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny for the little ones. Visit: https://www.opentable.com/r/rumorosa-san-diego-1 Sheraton SD Hotel and Marina on Instagram and Facebook

June 16 (at Scripps Research) features the all-star duo of bassist Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke on guitar and voice, playing music from their forthcoming release, "United." Holland makes a long-awaited return to the Athenaeum series, having last performed at the Scripps Research Hall in 2007. Holland’s passion for musical expression of all styles has propelled a career of more than 50 years and earned him top honors, including multiple GRAMMY awards and the title of NEA Jazz Master in 2017. His virtuosic technique and rhythmic feel are widely revered and in much demand. To date, his playing can be heard on hundreds of recordings, with more than 30 as a leader under his own name. Loueke last appeared at the library in summer 2023. A native of Benin, he came to the United States on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and from there gained acceptance to the Thelonious Monk [now Herbie Hancock] Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. Praised by his mentor Hancock as “a musical painter,” Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own. The duo of Holland and Loueke embodies a soulful conversation between two masters, merging their unique voices into something beautifully transcendent. The album is a profound testament to true collaboration, beautifully fusing Loueke’s rich West African roots with Holland’s profound influence on modern jazz. Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-25-0616 Dave Holland on Instagram and Facebook Lionel Loueke on Instagram and Facebook

The series concludes on June 21 with the return of the Melissa Aldana Quartet, with Aldana on tenor sax, Fabian Almazan on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. Aldana’s last Athenaeum performance was in March 2020, when she played music from her album "Visions" for Frida Kahlo, which earned her a first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Her program this June will feature music from her 2024 release on Blue Note Records, Echoes of the Inner Prophet. A native of Chile, Aldana moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music. In 2013, at age 24, she became the first female instrumentalist and the first South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Her latest album explores a fascinating paradox. As Aldana explains, it reflects her “personal journey, with an especially introspective point of view. The inner prophet is my own self, now older, who has the knowledge and the intuition and the truth about what my path should be. So, it’s this idea of connecting with that inner prophet,” she continues, “which reveals things about myself, including those things I don’t like.” At the same time, this deeply intimate, searching project is a celebration of collaboration and community. It documents the evolution of her quartet, capturing the collective insight they’ve garnered after extensive touring and travel, and arguing for their place among the most incisive working groups in jazz today. Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-25-0621 Melissa Aldana on Instagram and Facebook

The series begins on June 5 with the Sasha Berliner Quartet, featuring Berliner on vibraphone, Javier Santiago on piano, Max Gerl on bass, and Myles Martin on drums. Berliner, who made her Athenaeum debut last fall with bassist Ben Williams, returns as the leader of her own band with music from her March 2025 release, Fantôme. Named winner of the 2020 DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star—Vibraphone category, she was both the first woman, and at 21, the youngest individual in the poll’s history to receive the award. She has been voted one of the top 10 vibraphonists in DownBeat Readers Poll every year since 2021. Sasha has headlined venues like the Newport Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival and has recorded and performed with such renowned musicians as Tyshawn Sorey, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, and Cecile McLorin Salvant. "All About Jazz" wrote, “Berliner is in the firmament of the here and now in modern jazz and appears likely to occupy that upper stratosphere for some time to come.” "Of Fantôme", the French website Paris Move commented, "Her music is at once complex and accessible, effortlessly borrowing from pop, rock, and funk while remaining resolutely jazz—vibrant, lyrical, and imbued with a poetic sensibility. Berliner brings a rare dynamism to the vibraphone.” Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-25-0605 Sasha Berliner on Instagram and Facebook

Join us for our first annual Bailando in the Heights — a free, family-friendly dance and music wellness fair on Saturday, May 3 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights! Experience live music, wellness resources, food vendors, and cultural dance performances and workshops including Salsa, Bachata, Danza Azteca, Baile Folklórico, and more! Bring your blankets, your familia and friends—let’s move, connect, and celebrate together! Visit: https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/bailando-festival-wpark-option-441168

Thiago Tiberio, conductor San Diego Symphony Orchestra The San Diego Symphony Orchestra will present a screening of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s feature The Lion King with Hans Zimmer’s Oscar®-winning musical score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by conductor Thiago Tiberio. The original 1994 animated film features unforgettable music by a notable team of Oscar® and GRAMMY® winners, including superstar Elton John, lyricist Tim Rice, and composer Hans Zimmer, plus African vocal and choir arrangements by GRAMMY®-winning South African producer and composer Lebo M ("Rhythm of the Pride Lands"). Disney’s The Lion King journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is riddled with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from his long-lost friend, Nala, and a curious pair of newfound friends, Pumbaa and Timon, Simba must figure out how to face his past and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Matthew Broderick as Simba, Moira Kelly as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Jeremy Irons as Scar, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa and Nathan Lane as Timon. ©Disney Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. All rights reserved. Visit: https://www.theshell.org/performances/the-lion-king/ San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Flying just under the radar in La Jolla is an excellent group that presents a yearly concert series at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. They go by the name San Diego Baroque, and their lunchtime series is aptly named Bach’s Lunch. With the final concert of the series fast approaching, we invite you all to our presentation of "Organ-ic and Oboe-rific" on Wednesday, May 7th at 12:30 p.m. The program includes a concerto for organ and strings by Johann Baptist Vanhal, as well as concertos by Benedetto Marcello and Telemann, featuring the ensemble’s very own Alison Luedecke on the Rosales pipe organ and guest baroque oboist Adam Hollander. This is a free event, and one you surely don’t won’t to miss— we can’t wait to see you there! Visit: https://www.sdbaroque.com/events-one/bachslunch-may7 SD Baroque on Instagram and Facebook