Journey of 1000 Miles is a multimedia chamber concert series spotlighting compositions by immigrant Asian women performed by Leah Froyd (violinist/violist), Dana Marie Chan (pianist), and Zoe Lee (cellist). Artist Angela Han creates live-paintings inspired by the composers Jean Ahn, Yangfan Xu, and Juhi Bansal.
Presented by Insight Chamber Players and Angela Han Art LLC. Featured in the 28th Annual United States of Asian America Festival - Critical Refuge hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center in May 2025.
An All Asian-Woman Production
““Journey of 1000 Miles” aims to increase the representation of Asian women composers in classical performance repertoire while amplifying their lived experiences as immigrants in the United States. Through live discourse between musical performances, Insight Chamber Players and Angela Han Art LLC will create meaningful connections between audience members, composers, and performers. Artist Angela Han will create artwork during the concerts which will serve as both monuments to this collaboration and visual reflections of these educational dialogues.”
Meet the Composers
Meet the Performers
Meet the Artist
ANGELA HAN
About Angela’s Process:
“Using my background in music theory and analysis, I analyze the music scores by Jean Ahn, Yangfan Xu, and Juhi Bansal as well as actively listen to recordings of their music to determine the composition of the painting. In this way, compositional elements of the music influence the compositional elements of the art.
In addition, I attend the rehearsals of Leah Froyd (violinist/violist), Dana Marie Chan (pianist), and Zoe Lee (cellist) to immerse myself in their performance styles. The purpose is to get to know each musician's character and observe how these characteristics influence the manner in which the music conveyed, and therefore how the artwork is created.
Based on the research and analyses above, I design the composition of the painting. My goal is to not only create art inspired by the music, but to create art *in time* with the music, highlighting key features of the compositions. Therefore, the ultimate design of the painting requires that I choreograph my movements - each brushstroke - in sync with the music. In this way, I am also performing along with the musicians.
It is vital that I know the composers of "Journey of 1000 Miles" deeply. I have interviewed and continue to interview Jean Ahn, Yangfan Xu, and Juhi Bansal about their lived experiences. These stories fuel the soul of the artwork; thus, the final design and choreography of the painting feature symbolic elements referring to the composers' experiences as immigrant Asian women in the United States.
I practice various versions of the paintings in my artist studio to hone the design and choreography. Then it's showtime.” ~ Angela Han, Artist of Journey of 1000 Miles
Journey of 1000 Miles was presented by Insight Chamber Players, Angela Han Art LLC, and Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (APICC). This multimedia concert series was featured in the United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF) - Critical Refuge. USAAF2025 was hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the San Francisco Arts Commission, SF Grants for the Arts, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.