Stephanie Chou - Silent Films in Sound:  The Curse of Quon Gwon and The Tong Man

Tickets: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2026/s/stephanie-chou-silent-films-in-sound-the-curse-of-quon-gwon-and-the-tong-man/

Thursday, May 7, 2026

7pm/ doors 6pm

Commissioned by the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Stephanie Chou presents original scores to two classic AAPI silent films.

The Curse of Quon Gwon (Dir. Marion E. Wong, 1916, 33min.) is a pioneering, partially lost silent film, and the earliest known Chinese-American feature film. It's one of the first films directed by a woman in the United States.The members of a Chinese family living in the US have a curse put upon them for becoming too "westernized".

The Tong Man (Dir. William Worthington, 1919, 46min.) is a crime thriller starring Sessue Hayakwa, the first actor of Asian descent to achieve stardom as a leading man in Hollywood. An opium smuggler is marked for murder in this story of the Chinese Mafia.

Stephanie Chou is a composer/saxophonist/singer who seamlessly blends influences from her Chinese heritage with Western jazz and pop to create a bracingly original sound. She and her band will bring a unique cross-cultural expression and artistic vision to the stage for an evening treat for cinephiles and music aficionados alike. These vibrant scores pair music and movies in both traditional and innovative ways.

Enjoy two of the earliest AAPI films with new live scores - and be ready for daring sound and vision collisions! Don't miss this one-night-only movie-music matchup!

Stephanie Chou - voice, alto saxophone, compositions

Andy Lin - erhu, viola, violin

Hyuna Park - piano

Matt Aronoff - bass

Ronen Itzik - drums, percussion

Runtime 85 minutes

Tickets are $30 (inclusive of advance phone/web service fee; door price).

There is a 2 drink or 1 food item minimum, per person, during every show at Joe's Pub.

For last-minute tickets, please visit our Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street. Web Sales and phone sales end when doors open, and tickets may be available for in-person, walk-up sale right before the show begins.

https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/search/event:199340168/

Stephanie Chou Performs with The Tong Man and The Curse of Quon Gwon

Date

Sunday, May 3, 2026
4:00 pm–6:00 pm

Location

Asian Art Museum, West Building
Meyer Auditorium
West Building

Description

Experience two early Asian American–focused silent films with a live score by composer, saxophonist, and singer Stephanie Chou and her band.

The Tong Man
Sessue Hayakawa, the first Asian American actor to achieve fame in Hollywood, stars in this crime drama as a hit man for a Chinatown gang. His bosses order him to kill an opium smuggler impinging on their turf. The only problem is the smuggler is the father of the woman he loves. Hayakawa was known for his energetic, macho acting style, and his performance here doesn’t disappoint.

Director: William Worthington. Country: United States. Released: 1919. Length: 58 min. Format: DCP. Silent with English intertitles.

The Curse of Quon Gwon
This romance is not only one of the earliest known Asian American films but also one of the few silent films made by a woman. In the film, a Chinese American family are put under a curse for becoming too “Westernized.” Director Marion Wong plays the film’s villainess, and the cast and crew feature Wong’s family and friends. Curse is an impressive achievement for a first-time director and a bold rejoinder to the stereotypical depictions of Asian characters that were common at the time.

Director: Marion Wong. Country: United States. Released: 1917. Length: 36 min. Format: DCP. Silent.

Stephanie Chou (www.stephaniechoumusic.com) is a composer, saxophonist, and singer based in New York City. She blends Chinese musical influences with Western jazz and pop to create a unique and vibrant musical world. Stephanie’s music creates immediate cross-cultural connections and focuses on connecting with the audience.

Musicians:
Stephanie Chou – voice, alto saxophone, compositions
Andy Lin – erhu, viola, violin
Hyuna Park – piano
Matt Aronoff – bass
Ronen Itzik – drums, percussion

Image credit: Stephanie Chou photo courtesy of Chou. The Curse of Quon Gwon photo courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Cost

Free. Register in advance (recommended)

Get Tickets/Register

Get Tickets/Register

Accessibility & Accommodations

Assisted listening devices, Wheelchair accessible

Stephanie Chou / Cantus / The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass

Experience an electrifying 90-minute concert bringing together three distinctive voices in contemporary music. The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass delivers virtuosic, high-energy performances rooted in jazz classical, and New Orleans traditions. Cantus, the acclaimed all-male vocal ensemble, offers rich harmonies with incredible warmth and blend. Saxophonist and vocalist Stephanie Chou bridges jazz, contemporary, and global influences with bold originality. Featuring beloved standards alongside new favorites, this dynamic triple-bill celebrates collaboration, artistry, and the thrill of live performance!

Saturday January 10, 2026

Jazz at Lincoln Center - The Appel Room

5pm - 630pm

with: Ronen Itzik, Bryan Copeland, Jason Yeager, Keiko Tokunaga, Kelly Lin

More info: https://jazz.org/concerts-events/visiting-presenters/

Tickets: https://ticketing.jazz.org/20352/20353

APAP attendees - your badge serves as your ticket
CenterCharge 212-721-6500

BOX OFFICE - Broadway at 60th St. (ground floor) Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

Bells Beyond - New Music for Handbels

Friday, October 3 at 7pm

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Sanctuary

739 W. Erie Street

Chandler, AZ 85225

https://www.htlutheran.com/concerts

This is the debut performance of Bells Beyond, the Valley's latest professional handbell ensemble. Featuring the premieres of 10 new works for handbells from nationally- and internationally-renown composers, this concert will break barriers without breaking bells.

The concert is FREE, with donations gratefully accepted at the door.

Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/-RnpXcqbl9I

Steph wrote one of the ten new pieces!

Joe’s Pub spring show

https://publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2025/s/stephanie-chou/

Steph brings her band back to Joe's Pub for a spring performance in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month! They'll also be celebrating the release of her newest recording Dragon, a composition for erhu and string trio commissioned and performed by the NYC-based multicultural chamber ensemble INTERWOVEN.

Stephanie Chou is a composer/saxophonist/singer who blends influences from her Chinese heritage with Western jazz and pop to create a bracingly original sound. Tonight's show will feature some premieres of newly-written material and classics from her eclectic and wide-ranging body of work. The program includes some fan-favorites including strings, a special string quartet performance of Dragon,  and more. Don't miss their only NYC show this season!

Stephanie Chou - voice, alto saxophone, compositions
Andy Lin - erhu, viola, violin
Jason Yeager - piano
Matt Aronoff - bass
Ronen Itzik - drums, percussion

plus INTERWOVEN, a multi-cultural ensemble whose mission is to integrate the sounds of East and West, as well as Old and New.

Keiko Tokunaga - violin

Andrew Gonzalez - viola

Hikaru Tamaki - cello

https://publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2024/s/stephanie-chou-oct/

Doors 6pm/ Show 7pm

Following April's successful performance of Comfort Girl, Stephanie brings her band back to Joe's Pub for a performance of entirely different material!

Stephanie Chou is a composer/saxophonist/singer who blends influences from her Chinese heritage with Western jazz and pop to create a bracingly original sound. Tonight's show will feature live premieres of newly-written material and fan favorites from her eclectic and wide-ranging body of work.

Chinatown Dreams is a songwriting album following the journey of a young, second-generation Chinese-American woman, as she and her Chinatown community go through a year of tremendous challenges. This semi-autobiographical story examines the conflict between choosing the safe, expected path vs. following one's heart, a conflict so many second-generation Americans of all sorts face. Chinatown Dreams will be a concept album written for her band, with lyrics in English and Mandarin. The music combines the energy of improvised jazz with the precision of progressive rock, in an homage to Manhattan's Chinatown.

Stephanie Chou - voice, alto saxophone, compositions
Andy Lin - erhu, viola, violin
Hyuna Park - piano
Matt Aronoff - bass
Ronen Itzik - drums, percussion
James Wordsworth - guest singer
Lito Villareal - guest singer

“A stunning work that not only shines light on a dark chapter of history but also feels inspirational for contemporary listeners.” – DownBeat

“One of New York’s most socially relevant and ambitious jazz talents." - New York Music Daily

Tonight's concert is supported by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Creative Engagement, part of the Manhattan Arts Grants programs with funding provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), and Howard Gilman Foundation.