The Orchid Ensemble are (from left) Lan Tung, Jonathan Bernard and Yu-Chen Wang. (Photo by Nenad Stevanovic)

The trio of musicians who make up Orchid Ensemble come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, hailing from China, Taiwan and Canada.

They will showcase their wide range of music during a performance at 8 p.m. Sept. 22 in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Doors will open at 7:10 p.m. for a pre-show discussion. Tickets are $10-$20.

The ensemble uses ancient Chinese instruments to blend traditional and contemporary Chinese music, improvisational jazz and world music into a new sound.

The group is devoted to fostering cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians. They regularly collaborate with artists from diverse musical and ethnic backgrounds and commission new works from American and Canadian composers.

Orchid Ensemble’s concert is part of the International Performing Arts Series at UMSL. The performance is sponsored by Dr. Y.S. Tsiang Professorship in Chinese Studies at UMSL, International Studies and Programs at UMSL and the Regional Arts Commission.