Residents have the opportunity see multicultural world music at its finest this Sunday as the Silk Road Duo makes its way back to the area for a performance at The Old School House.
Husband and wife team Qui Xia He and Andre Thibault have been making music together and touring for the past 15 years, delighting audiences in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
In 2004, they were featured with the Vancouver Symphony at the Orpheum to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Qui Xia He is a master of the pipa, also known as the Chinese lute. She has been playing the instrument since she was a young child after being selected to attend an arts oriented elementary school in China. At age 13 she was performing in a professional group and by her mid 20’s she was teaching the instrument at the Xian Academy of Music. While performing with a professional group in Vancouver she decided to stay in the city. Qui Xia He founded Silk Road Music in 1991, which ranges from a duo to a full troupe.
Thibault is from Montreal and has been playing the guitar for about 45 years. He became captivated by Flamenco music some time ago, and has also become proficient in playing the oud (middle Eastern lute), the hulusi (a Chinese reed flute) and various other percussion and wind instruments.
The duo plays original music as well as some traditional folk songs from around the world. Thibault said one thing the audience can count on at the upcoming show is being engaged.
“Our show is very audience friendly,” he said. “We try and keep it fun and upbeat, there are tender ballads and beautiful moments but we try and keep it fun and interesting.”
The couple will play a number of instruments at TOSH as well as sing, and they always explain the origins of the instruments, Thibault said, making the shows very informative as well as musically interesting.
The Sill Road Duo will play at TOSH Sunday, August 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $16.
For more information visit www.theoldscholhouse.org or call 250-752-6133.