Joy Luck Trio: Groundbreaking Pipa-Erhu-Piano Premiere - May 2026 NY

New York, NY — Experience a meeting of virtuosity, heritage, and storytelling as Gao Hong (pipa), Karen Han (erhu), and Donna Weng Friedman (piano) unite to form the Joy Luck Trio. This pioneering ensemble bridges the sounds of East and West, weaving Chinese folktales into newly composed works and reimagined Western masterpieces with a fresh, contemporary voice.

The New York premiere will take place on May 2, 2026, at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing, Queens. This debut marks a milestone in cross-cultural collaboration, inviting audiences into a sound world where tradition, innovation, and identity harmoniously converge.

"The Joy Luck Trio brings together pipa, erhu, and piano in a deeply personal musical conversation—reflecting our shared Chinese American heritage, lifelong friendship, and the joy of artistic collaboration," says Gao Hong, a 2025 Transglobal World Music Hall of Fame inductee, honored in St. Paul with "Gao Hong Day" for her 50th anniversary concert. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar praises Gao as "one of the premier pipa players in the world."

Karen Han, internationally acclaimed erhu soloist with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and London Royal Philharmonic, known for her work on films such as The Joy Luck Club and Memoirs of a Geisha, adds: "Music is an enchanting language that asks for no translation. Through Joy Luck Trio, I hope our music can be a vessel for culture and compassion, weaving connections from heart to heart."

Donna Weng Friedman, selected as one of Musical America's Top 30 Professionals of 2024, award-winning filmmaker (Never Fade Away) and concert pianist who has performed as soloist with the Atlanta, Shanghai, Philadelphia, and New Jersey Symphonies, reflects: "What I love about our Joy Luck Trio is our shared passion for telling our stories through music—and creating a sound world unique only to us."

Together, these three acclaimed artists craft an experience that is both timeless and visionary — a celebration of cultural heritage, artistic freedom, and the unifying spirit of music.
Full program and ticket details will be announced in spring 2026.

Joy Luck Trio
Gao Hong (pipa) - Karen Han (erhu) - Donna Weng Friedman (piano)
Chinese American virtuosos sharing timeless stories through sound.
Joy Luck Trio Premieres: Groundbreaking Debut of the First-Ever Pipa-Erhu-Piano Trio