Pianist Dr. Yiwen Zhu launched a new community concert series at the Canal Winchester Branch of Columbus Metropolitan Library in the summer of 2026, presenting two programs that brought professional musicians and thoughtfully selected repertoire into an accessible public setting.
Held on July 18 and August 15, the concerts explored two distinct themes: music by Asian composers and music by women composers. Yiwen Zhu conceived and led the project, overseeing its artistic direction while also appearing as a pianist. Following the response to the first season, Columbus Metropolitan Library invited her to continue the project as an annual summer series.
Introducing “Voices of Asia”
The series opened on July 18 with “Voices of Asia,” a program devoted to music by composers from China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia. The concert combined solo piano, chamber music, and vocal works, allowing the audience to hear several musical traditions within a single program.
Chinese repertoire included Zhang Zhao’s “Starlit Night” from Four Diaries, as well as music by Li Yinghai and other contemporary composers. Rather than treating Asian music as a single style, the program placed works with different cultural backgrounds and compositional approaches alongside one another.
The participating musicians included current students and graduates of the Doctor of Musical Arts program at The Ohio State University. Through solo and collaborative performances, the musicians presented works by composers from across Asia.
A Second Program Centered on Women Composers
The series returned on August 15 with “Music by Women Composers.” The second program brought together works written across different countries, generations, and musical traditions.
The repertoire included music by Amy Beach, Margaret Bonds, Martha Hill Duncan, Lili Boulanger, Teresa Carreño, Mel Bonis, Maria Szymanowska, and Dora Pejačević. The selections ranged from Romantic character pieces to works shaped by American musical traditions and 20th-century approaches to harmony and form.
The program was designed to introduce the composers through their music rather than treating them as representatives of a single category. By placing contrasting works in conversation with one another, the concert gave listeners a broader view of the many styles and individual voices found within this repertoire.
Yiwen Zhu again performed as a pianist while directing the overall program. Her work included developing the theme, selecting repertoire, inviting musicians, coordinating schedules, preparing publicity materials, and working with the library and supporting partners on concert logistics.
Both events were free and open to the public. Their library setting created an informal atmosphere in which families, students, longtime concertgoers, and audience members with little previous exposure to classical music could attend together.
From a Summer Project to an Annual Series
The two concerts drew strong attendance and a positive response from the community. The Canal Winchester Branch provided the venue and helped connect the project with local audiences, while Solich Piano supported the series and provided the instrument used for the performances.
Following the two summer programs, Columbus Metropolitan Library invited Yiwen Zhu to continue as the series’ artistic director and curator. The project will return as an annual summer offering, with each season organized around a new musical or cultural theme.
The continuing partnership allows Yiwen Zhu to develop the project beyond a single season. Future programs will draw on different composers, cultural traditions, and areas of repertoire while retaining the series’ original purpose: presenting professional performances in a welcoming community environment.
In addition to performing, Yiwen Zhu shapes each program, brings together the participating musicians, and connects the repertoire with its audience. Through this work, she brings live classical music to the Canal Winchester community through free public concerts at the library.
