Elena Moon Park and Friends performs music for all-ages audiences across NYC and beyond. The band plays folk and children's music from around the globe, with an emphasis on East Asia, and original songs. Past presenters include Carnegie Kids, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Lincoln Center Education, The Getty Center LA, Flushing Town Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, BRIC Arts, Asia Society NYC and Houston, World Cafe Live, Symphony Space, 92Y, Noguchi Museum, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Madison Square Park, and more.
The Rabbit Days and Dumplings album features reimagined folk and children's songs from East Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Tibet. Released in fall 2012 by Festival Five Records, the album has received lovely feedback, including a Parent's Choice Award and a feature on NPR's All Things Considered.
Unhurried Journey is a collection of songs for all ages that celebrates the beauty of taking our time to appreciate every moment of our individual and collective journeys. The album is inspired by the artwork of Kristiana Pärn, and features original songs based on her artwork plus reimagined folk and children's songs from East and Southeast Asia. Released in spring 2020.
For Performance Booking Inquiries for Elena Moon Park & Friends, contact Stephanie Mayers at
Artwork by Kristiana Parn. Photos by Adam Mirza.
PRESS
For Rabbit Days and Dumplings
An interview on NPR's All Things Considered
A Parent's Choice Award acknowledgment
Hands down, it is the best all-ages album I've ever come across. - New York Family Magazine
Rabbit Days and Dumplings is a timeless classic and one that fully supports Park's strong belief that music has the ability to transcend borders, ages, languages, and backgrounds. – Kids Can Groove
Elena Moon Park has found a way to incorporate Asian elements with American elements in a grandly metaphoric sort of way that says something powerful and positive about the potential of cross-cultural exchange, and on that note, about the immigrant experience. But also? It's just fun to listen to, and that's enough in and of itself. – About.com
Rabbit Days and Dumplings is not only a great introduction to the music of East Asia, it is great music, period. Interesting instrumentation, unusual but compelling rhythms and playful lyrics make this album shine, from start to finish. – Apartment Therapy
Elena Moon Park has put together a joyful and eclectic collection of traditional folk and children's songs, reinterpreted and reinvented in a way that preserves their beauty, but also makes them incredibly appealing to a wide family audience… this CD proves that great music touches us all, no matter what our background or mother tongue. – Cool Mom Picks
Wow! Elena Moon Park embraces both her family tree and musical roots in her latest CD 'Rabbit Days And Dumplings'. Well done! - Robert Drake, Producer Kids Corner, WXPN-FM, Philadelphia
For Unhurried Journey
Thanks to the NYTimes for spreading the word!
The works of these two women meshes and creates a total immersion of cultures for children and their families - Geek Dad
An interview with Morgan Taylor for his show Radio Cake on Radio Kingston
An article from The Kid Should See This about the Flower Dance song & video
A video premiere in NY State Music for the Unhurried Journey video
Another video premiere by The All Scene Eye for Brilliant New Idea
A sweet article in my hometown paper The Oak Ridger
A recommendation from The Midwest Book Review
A lovely mention from The Toy Insider
Some kind words in an early review from Red Tricycle
MUSICIANS + ARTISTS
Rob Friedman
Philippa Thompson