For years parents have sent their kids to immersion schools in the hopes of bringing them closer to their ethnic roots and expanding their vocational awareness. But how many schools bring together two languages, cultures, and traditions in one classroom setting?
Bilingual Buds is a Spanish and Mandarin immersion school spanning grades 1 through 5, founded by New Jersey mom Sharon Huang who wanted her boys to understand their Chinese roots. And this month, they’re partnering with musical group A Little Mandarin for their first BilingualFest, a concert and festival that extends opportunities to share cultural experiences and find commonalities to all families in the city.
“We wanted to bring everyone [together] and be very inclusive,” said Toni Wang, the founder and singer of A Little Mandarin. “This is a family and community event… and to put these two communities together and find a common ground is great. I don’t think anything like this has been done before.”
The concert, with a lively line up of Hispanic and Chinese bands, is a great way for everyone to celebrate the Latino and Chinese American communities and culture. The Mencius Youth Ensemble and the East River Ensemble will join Toni in singing Chinese songs and playing traditional instruments, while Bernado Palombo & El Taller and Sonia De Los Santos bring a Latin flair to the afternoon. Also featured will be fiddler and singer Elena Moon Park, who New York Family featured as a hot new children’ s musician in our most recent issue!
The Bilingual Fest will raise funds to support APEX and the Committee of Hispanic Children and Families. These non-profit organizations work with low-income communities to provide literacy resources and mentoring to Hispanic and Asian families in New York.
Children $10, adults $15, families $40. Saturday April 20, 3pm, 150 West 83rd Street, bilingualfest.org
