For Charles Yang, the 1964 hit “A Change is Gonna Come”, by Sam Cooke, is a life-altering song.

A clip of Yang singing the civil rights movement anthem and accompanying himself on the violin went viral on social media, introducing his work to a wider audience. The soulful performance was an impromptu choice as an encore for a concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

But dig beyond that viral clip, and you will find Yang to be a musician who consistently mixes youthful exuberance with an old-timey soulfulness. The American violinist and singer-songwriter balances technique and playfulness in equal measure.

Not just a solo act, Yang is also the violinist and lead singer of the string band Time for Three, with whom he has netted a Grammy award.

Hongkongers will soon get to experience Yang’s virtuosity as he brings his Ravel, Rhythm & Blues concert to town on May 17, accompanied by Peter Dugan on piano. While no stranger to the city, this performance marks his recital debut and promises to be a “genre-blending programme”, with the set list spanning Monti and Ravel to the Beatles and jazz sets.

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