The musical colors of FSU's annual Rainbow Concert take on a softer shimmer this year.

The concert, which showcases the ethnomusicology program's world music ensembles, traditionally features visiting artists performing with FSU musicians. This year's honored guest is Chinese pipa player Gao Hong, who will perform with zheng (a kind of Chinese zither) virtuoso Haiqiong Deng, director of the Chinese Ensemble.

"It's the first time we've featured anything other than (a performer of) loud, percussive music as the special guest," said ethnomusicology program founder and professor Dale Olsen.

"I like to say that we practice musicology with a capital 'M,' meaning we cover all music."

Olsen has watched his program burgeon since its creation nearly three decades ago. The addition of two new faculty members next fall - an African music specialist and an expert on music of the Middle East, Central Asia and northwest China - makes FSU's program one of the largest and best-regarded in the country.

"Our aim is to train critical thinkers and good researchers," Olsen said. "And we do see the importance of performing as a way of learning more in-depth about different cultures."

He is particularly pleased to feature Deng, who's working on her master's degree in arts administration and is considered one of the premier zheng virtuosos in the world.

"Haiqiong graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory, which is like the Juilliard School," Olsen said. "She was named the outstanding zheng player in China in 1995, when she was 20 years old."

Deng and Hong will blend their talents in a duet titled "Moonlight Over the Spring River" during their portion of the program. Hong also will perform two solos, "Dance of the Yi Minority" and her own composition, "Flying Dragon." Deng will get a chance to shine on the solo piece "Music from the Twelve Mukam."

Although the ethnomusicology program has a select few students, close to 200 musicians will perform Saturday night. Here's a look at other performers on the program:

The Native American Ensemble - The latest addition to FSU's roster of world music ensembles is led by Nicky Belle and focuses on powwow-style songs and dances. The group performs an Intertribal Dance song by the Porcupine Singers.

Sekaa Gong Hanuman Agung - FSU's very own Balinese gamelan orchestra is led by Michael Bakan and will perform eminent Balinese composer Asnawa's composition "Sekar Kemuda" ("Flower of Youth").

Mas 'n' Steel - Also known as the FSU Caribbean Steel Drum Ensemble, Mas 'n' Steel is directed by Ryan Lewis. The group focuses on the calypso and Soca music indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, but it also can branch out to encompass Latin, jazz, reggae, pop, rock and classical music.

FSU Korean Music and Dance Ensemble - Director Jong-In Heo oversees the performance of "Kkokdu-kakshi chum," a dance from the popular Korean puppet play "Kkokdu-kakshi Norum." The kayagum (a 12-stringed zither) provides the musical accompaniment.

Samba Oba - The big, bold beats of Brazil's world-famous Carnival celebration are pounded out by this ensemble led by Marshall Howland. The group performs the traditional samba "Batucada."

Aconcagua - Led by program founder Olsen, Aconcagua specializes in the music of the Andes played on such traditional instruments as kena flutes, siku panpipes, bombo drums, charango lutes and guitar. The group performs a tune from Chile called "Ramis" and finishes with the energetic Afro-Bolivian song "La Fiesta de San Benito."

FSU Blues Lab - Local musical treasure Sir Charles Atkins and his "Blues Chilluns" perform the first music that can claim to have American, not European, roots.

African Music and Dance Ensemble - The group, led by Bill Yazid Johnson and choreographed by Nzinga Metzger, will perform traditional music and dance from the 13th-century Mali Empire in West Africa.

Salsa Florida - Jose "Papo" Carrasco, known to local jazz fans as the keyboardist for Latin Attitude, leads this popular ensemble in a variety of Caribbean styles of music, including merengue, danzon, rumba, mambo and salsa.

FSU Irish Fiddlers - Director Jane Scott has schooled this group to play lively and whimsical traditional Irish tunes on fiddle, mandolin and guitar.

FSU Gospel Choir - Michael Figgers leads the choirs' 100 singers in classics from America's gospel tradition.