Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is proud to present a reimagined version of American Railroad, a powerful program by the Silkroad Ensemble with renowned pipa player Wu Man, on Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Originally conceived by Silkroad’s Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, American Railroad sheds light on the profound yet often-overlooked contributions of Indigenous and African Americans, as well as Chinese, Irish, Japanese, and other immigrant communities, to the construction of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad and connecting railways across North America. Just as the ancient Silk Road facilitated cultural exchange between Asia and Europe, the railroad transformed the American landscape—both uniting and dividing the people whose lives it touched.
In a powerful reimagining of this acclaimed program, Silkroad presents an intimate yet dynamic eight-piece ensemble, led by internationally renowned pipa master and longtime founding member of Silkroad Wu Man. The program highlights collaborations of traditional percussion instruments from India, Japan, and Italy, alongside the Chinese pipa, guitar, and string instruments, as well as the Chinese suona and European accordion. Featuring original compositions by Silkroad artists and guest composers, this performance amplifies the voices of those who built the railroads—and those who were displaced by them—painting a richer, more accurate picture of America’s past and its reverberations today.
Beyond the stage, the story of American Railroad is available in a podcast, an educational curriculum, an album, and the PBS series My Music with Rhiannon Giddens (Season 2). From the original podcast, PRX also recently released a one-hour special with a strong focus on the stories and contributions of Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
2025 American Railroad Tour Roster
- Wu Man, pipa
- Niwel Tsumbu, guitar
- Shawn Conley, bass
- Sandeep Das, tabla
- Kaoru Watanabe, Japanese flutes and percussion
- Michi Wiancko, violin
- Guo Yazhi, Chinese winds and percussion
- Francesco Turrisi, accordion and frame drums
In addition to the Friday evening performance, the Quick Center for the Arts will host the Silkroad Ensemble for five days of rehearsals, educational programs, and workshops. Programming includes a workshop with the music department at the Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, an open rehearsal for local K-12.
These activities are funded, in part, by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program, and the six New England state arts agencies. In addition, this program is made possible through the generosity of Norman and Celeste LaCroix.
Tickets are now on sale on quickcenter.com for $35, or $25 for Quick Members. For more information, contact the Quick Center Box Office at 203-254-4010, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
