East Zodiac Music Β· 2026
Highlighting
Asian Composers
& Their Voices
A nonprofit classical music organization premiering works by Asian composers β one zodiac year at a time.
Upcoming Premiere
Year of the Horse β 2026
Featuring works by Asian composers premiering at the start of the Chinese New Year.
RSVP βWho We Are
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a community that supports an entire ecosystem of music-making with Asian music at its center β one zodiac year at a time.
We commission and premiere original chamber music by Asian and Asian-American composers, giving their voices a stage where they have historically been underrepresented in Western classical music.
12
Zodiac Years
6+
Concerts Presented
30+
Composers Commissioned
501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Status
2025β2026 Season
Current Project
East Zodiac Premiere Concert
2026 β Year of the Horse
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating the voices of Asian composers, performed by talented musicians from the Ann Arbor community. The highlight: a world premiere by our 2026 Composer-in-Residence, Wenbin Lyu, featuring the award-winning Cerus Quartet β Gold Medalists of the 2025 Fischoff Competition.
- π Date: April 25, 2026
- πTime: 5:00 PM
- πVenue: Northside Community Church
- πΊοΈAddress: 929 Barton Dr, Ann Arbor, MI
- ποΈAdmission: Free (pay-what-you-can)
A free reception with local Asian-owned food businesses follows the concert. Special thanks to Linh & Dug Song and Michigan Arts Initiative for making this event possible.
Past Concerts
Gallery
The People Behind East Zodiac
Our Team
Samuel Hsieh
Founder & CEO
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Founder & CEO
Samuel Hsieh
Born in New York and raised in Taiwan, clarinetist and arts leader Samuel Hsieh brings a cross-cultural perspective to every aspect of his work. A passionate adβ¦
Vanna Tsiknias
Board Member
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Board Member
Vanna Tsiknias
Born and raised in South Carolina, Vanna Tsiknias is a clarinetist and educator. She received her Master of Music from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaiβ¦
Sean Penzo
Composer & Board Member
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Composer & Board Member
Sean Penzo
Born in Genova, Italy, and raised outside of Syracuse, NY, Sean Penzo is a composer, cellist, and writer known for a wide range of collaborations and compositioβ¦
Faye Lu
Board Member
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Board Member
Faye Lu
Faye Lu is a passionate musician and educator currently working toward dual master's degrees in Percussion Performance and Chamber Music Performance at the Univβ¦
2025β2026 Ensemble-in-Residence
Cerus Quartet
Founded in 2022, Cerus Quartet is committed to elevating the saxophone quartet through innovative programming, bold commissions, and engaging performances. Our 2025β2026 Ensemble-in-Residence and winners of the Concert Artists Guild Award.
Members
- Roberto CampaSoprano Saxophone
- Laura RamsayAlto Saxophone
- Kyle KatoTenor Saxophone
- Samuel DishonBaritone Saxophone
Accolades
- 2025 Β· Concert Artists Guild Louis & Susan Meisel Competition β Winner
- 2025 Β· Fischoff Chamber Music Competition β Gold Medal
- 2024 Β· MTNA National Chamber Music Competition β First Prize
- 2023 Β· Briggs Chamber Music Competition β First Prize & Michigan Prize
A 12-Year Journey
The Zodiac Cycle
Rabbit
2022β2023
DoneDragon
2023β2024
DoneSnake
2024β2025
DoneHorse
2025β2026
NowGoat
2026β2027
SoonMonkey
2027β2028
SoonRooster
2028β2029
SoonDog
2029β2030
SoonPig
2030β2031
SoonRat
2031β2032
SoonOx
2032β2033
SoonTiger
2033β2034
SoonMedia Coverage
In the Press
Ann Arbor Asian Night Market
East Zodiac participated in Ann Arbor's first Asian Night Market, sharing our mission to uplift Asian composers with the local community.
Read article β
Taiwanese American Heritage Week
East Zodiac was featured in coverage of Taiwanese American Heritage Week, highlighting our work commissioning and premiering music by Asian composers.
Read article β
Share Your Story: Samuel Hsieh & East Zodiac
Founder Samuel Hsieh shares the story behind East Zodiac β from a passion project to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit commissioning Asian composers nationwide.
Read article β
Support Our Mission
Make Music Possible
East Zodiac is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to commissioning and premiering works by Asian composers. Your gift directly funds composer fees, rehearsals, and live performances β bringing new voices to the concert stage.
All contributions are tax-deductible. EIN 33-3681233. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contributions.
2026 Campaign
Year of the Horse
Our sixth annual concert cycle commissions five new works by emerging Asian composers, culminating in a live premiere in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Help us cross the finish line.
62% funded β thank you!
6
Years running
12
Composers commissioned
501(c)(3)
Tax-exempt status
100%
Goes to artists
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Questions about our concerts, collaborations, or commissioning opportunities? We'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form and we'll get back to you soon.