Staff Report

Wu Man and the Huayin Shadow Puppet Band will present a rare experience of traditional Chinese culture at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at UCSB Campbell Hall.

Wu Man is the world’s premier master of the pipa, a lute-like instrument that has a history of more than 2,000 years in China.

A principal member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man has an adventurous spirit and virtuosity that leads to collaborations across artistic disciplines. In this joyous multimedia program, China’s Huayin Shadow Puppet Band – superstars in their home country – join her for an evening of traditional music and shadow puppetry.

Also known as the Zhang Family Band, the troupe is well-known for performances of traditional music with shadow puppetry, a practice that occurs mainly in Shaanxi Province. In addition to vocals, the main instruments are the yueqin, banhu, erhu and percussion including clappers, small gongs and cymbals around a large gong.

For tickets or more information, go to artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.