by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

“Lixin the Mystic Voice” plays a free and open to the public 7 p.m. concert at Claremont Presbyterian Church this Saturday, November 4, part of her ongoing series, “Journey of Harmony.”

The concert, “Divine Love in the Mystic Garden,” features the sacred chanting master along with guests pianist Hao Huang, cellist Ami Radunskaya, and percussionist Angel Lin. Lixin will chant hymns in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, and English.

Behind the music sits a deeper meaning of world peace, for which she has been calling since starting the series in 2012.

“I’m on a mission, but not by any organization,” she said. “I’m just a servant of humanity.”

The “Mystic Voice of the East” moniker was given to her by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Lixin credited her South Korean spiritual masters, Chief Abbot Moktak and Monk Ming Shan (who accompanied her for 17 years), with guiding her to become a chanting presence of unity. She said her concerts have just one theme — we are one — and usually flow based on local folklore, sacred traditions, and what the musicians are playing in the moment. She will welcome martial artists from the Defense Arts Center in Upland to join her Saturday.

“It’s a dialogue between the musicians and the artists — whatever they can bring to it,” she said. “We listen to each other. We let it evolve organically. I call it ‘Journey of Harmony,’ like the different streams joining into a river.”

“Lixin the Mystic Voice” performs a free and open to the public 7 p.m. concert Saturday, November 4 at Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N. Mountain Ave. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Lixin’s chants and music stem from connections to ancient teachings including the Tao Te Ching, Buddhist sutras, Sanskrit Vedas, Persian Sufi poetry, and Psalms from the Bible. Before the concert, a blessing will be held by Javier Ramirez, a spiritual leader of the Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation of Southern California. The show will conclude with an open dialogue with guest sensei Ty Aponte, as well as “whoever wants to voice how we can build a beloved community,” Lixin added. That portion will be facilitated by Claremont Presbyterian Church Rev. Karen Sapio.

“I want no race, no culture, no nation to be excluded from this,” Lixin said. “I want all to be in it. I hope that people can come to the concert and experience, truly, what is divine love. When you experience it, you know we are one.”

Abstaining from news, word of the October 7 attack in Israel took longer than normal to reach Lixin. Her spiritual master sent her a message explaining a vision appeared during a recent mediation that depicted Israeli villages burning, and asked Lixin to find out what happened.

“I had a meeting with pastor Karen that day” about the concert Lixin said. “She told me briefly what happened. I was numb.”

She immediately called friends in Israel and Gaza. She heard nothing but anguish from one group, and anger from another.

“All of this … for what?” Lixin asked. “Of course, I’m boiling, I’m boiling with anger. I’m not standing any sides you know. I’m all for peace, for giving justice to all people. I stand with the people who are oppressed. I stand with the mothers, the children and the elders and the people who have no power, no voice to change the policies in the world.”

Lixin the Mystic Voice performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at 1111 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont. More information is at mysticvoice.world.