2025 Lunar New Year
Upper Dublin Celebrates the 2025 Lunar New Year
Upper Dublin Celebrates the 2025 Lunar New Year
Upper Dublin High School was vibrant with color, culture, and celebration on February 2, as the 2025 Upper Dublin Lunar New Year Festival captivated attendees with a showcase of music, dance, and interactive traditions. The event, which featured a stirring concert in the morning and a lively cultural fair in the afternoon, was coordinated by the Upper Dublin Chinese American Association (UDCA) in collaboration with the UDSD Asian American Students and Families Committee (AASF), UDHS Asian Students Association (ASA), Upper Dublin Library, Guanghua Chinese School, and other multiple organizations in the greater Philadelphia area.
The celebration kicked off at 11:30 AM with a chamber music concert at the Performing Arts Center, co-presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) and WRTI 90.1. Two Chinese American musicians, cellist Julia Yang and pianist Fei-Fei Dong, took their extraordinary talents to the stage, weaving together a breathtaking performance blending Eastern and Western musical traditions for hundreds of guests from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Afterwards, the activity transitioned to the school’s cafeteria for a cultural fair hosting a wide variety of Lunar New Year traditions. Curious attendees had the opportunity to explore over a dozen interactive booths, each showcasing traditional Chinese arts such as calligraphy, ink painting, paper cutting, and origami. Tea ceremonies offered a taste of ancient customs. Adding to the diversity, K-Motion Troupe thrilled attendees with a dynamic Korean drumming demonstration. While Upper Dublin Library engaged children with Lunar New Year-themed coloring activities, the Make Us Visible PA provided resources and insights into the integration of AAPI culture and history in Pennsylvania’s K-12 curriculum. Scouting of America and League of Women Voters-PA were also present to demonstrate support and solidarity, as well as distribute information at their tables. After browsing some stations, young visitors earned prizes and received red envelopes for their participation, a cherished tradition in Chinese families.
The fair also featured a diverse cultural performance program, including the Upper Dublin High School Sophisticated Strings’ rendition of Tibetan dance music and Korean folk songs, the Guanghua Chinese School’s signature dragon dance, the UD Indoor Drumline Mallet quartet’s performance of "Blooming Flowers," as well as Korean fan and drum dances and Indian Kuchipudi dance. Each performance was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The celebration garnered strong support from the Upper Dublin School District and the greater community leaders, including the UD Township commissioner, UD school board members, administrators, school principals, UDSD Equity and Empowerment Steering Committee members, the President of the Upper Dublin Education Foundation, UD Library Director, Legislative District Office Director, and many local AAPI coalition leaders. At the beginning of the live cultural performances, UDSD Superintendent Dr. Laurie Smith delivered heartfelt remarks, while Razin Karu, Director of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs, extended warm Lunar New Year greetings from Governor Josh Shapiro. Additional esteemed speakers, including UD Township Commissioner Harm Scherpier, School Board President Jeffrey Wallack, and leaders from the League of
Women Voters-PA and the AAPI Coalition for Health and Human Services, also offered good wishes for a joyous new year.
A special highlight of the afternoon event was the presentation of the inaugural UDHS ASA Senior Student Leadership Awards to Rebecca Giang and Isabella Xie. Dr. Phil Chang, House Principal of Upper Dublin High School, and Dr. Smith proudly recognized the two outstanding students, celebrating their achievements and wishing the best for their continued success. The awards were co-sponsored by the Upper Dublin Chinese American Association and the UDSD Asian American Students and Families Committee (AASF).
No celebration would be complete without delicious food. The Upper Dublin High School Asian Student Association, under the supervision of Ms. Phoebe Lim, spared no effort to bring attendees an authentic, piping-hot taste of the Lunar New Year.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all sponsors, volunteers, students, and families whose dedication made this event truly special. The Upper Dublin’s Lunar New Year event has become a festival where people from all backgrounds come together in celebration. As the spring approaches, the UD communities welcome a season of hope, unity, and boundless possibilities!
Photos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1epWwmiBlslJ9dahOF2SCyCCXtTrX0IWS/view?usp=drive_link
1. Chinese-American cellist Julia Yang and pianist Fei-Fei Dong
2. Two Musicians with Guests and Volunteers at the UDHS Performing Arts Center
3. Cultural Fair: Live Performances and Interactive Stations
4. Speakers
5. Inaugural Asian Students Association (ASA) Senior Leadership Awards Ceremony
Photo #1: Chinese-American cellist Julia Yang and pianist Fei-Fei Dong
Photo #2: Two Musicians with Guests and Volunteers at the UDHS Performing Arts Center
L to R: Ling Liang, Art Levinowitz, Julien Drennan, Daniel Ortiz, Laurie Smith, Fei-Fei Dong, Julia Yang, Beth Nixon, Titia Scherpbier, Claudia Nalence, Harm Scherpbier, Yajing Zhu, Jeffrey Wallack, Chelsea Steinberg, Elaine Fitz-Gibbon, Yuzhen Chen, Grace Wible, Zhigen Zhao, Xinkai Kong, Annie Lee, Weiqin Luan
Photo #3: Cultural Fair: Live Performances and Interactive Stations
Photo #4: Speakers
Top Row (L to R): Laurie Smith (UDSD Superintendent), Ling Liang (President of Upper Dublin Chinese American Association), Razin Karu (Executive Director of PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs), Stephanie Sun (Vice President of League of Women Voters-PA);
Bottom Row (L to R): Harm Scherpbier (UD Township Commissioner), Jeffrey Wallack (President of UD Board of School Directors), George Choe (Co-Chair of AAPI Coalition for Health & Human Services).
Photo #5: Inaugural Asian Students Association (ASA) Senior Leadership Awards Ceremony
L to R: Dr. Laurie Smith, Rebecca Giang, Isabella Xie, Dr. Phil Chang
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