Laney College welcomes the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Jane Chu and Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council to celebrate the Chinese Music Program led by Sherlyn Chew.
Sherlyn is an extraordinary music teacher whose mission in life is to teach music to children from lower income circumstances using Chinese instruments. She is also founder of Purple Silk Music Education Foundation, an Oakland-based nonprofit that supports music education for inner-city youth. The program includes the Great Wall Youth Orchestra & Chorus of Laney College and the Purple Bamboo Orchestra & Chorus of Lincoln Elementary School. The mission is to instill in young people an appreciation of music from all cultures through instruction in traditional Chinese instruments. The Purple Silk Music Foundation promotes opportunities for children and youth of low-income families to receive music education from professional musicians, perform in public venues and become proficient musicians themselves.