Calligraphy, Music & Mandarin Meetup – Your Monthly Cultural Escape (December)

Yixin Wang is an accomplished guzheng performer and educator who holds a double degree in guzheng performance and mathematics from Bard College. She is the director and co-founder of Echos of China Ensemble, an award-winning ensemble and registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Chinese traditional music while blending tradition with innovation. She currently serves as the guzheng instructor at the China Institute of America and Growing Music Studio, and is also an active member of the Bard East/West Ensemble. In addition to guzheng, she is also a skilled Chinese percussionist, soprano, and yangqin player.

Originally from Shanghai, China, Yixin began studying guzheng at the age of three and won her first competition at seven. After moving to the U.S., she started performing and hosting educational events, advocating for the development of traditional Chinese music in the west. She joined the Houston Traditional Chinese Music Group in 2014, later serving as section leader and board member from 2017 to 2018. She organized and hosted the first traditional Chinese charity concert in Katy, Texas in November 2017.

Driven by a desire to deepen her artistic and academic pursuits, Yixin went on to study at Bard College in 2018. The following year, she won the Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition. In 2021, she premiered the guzheng concerto Awakening Light by Dr. Xinyan Li, conducted by maestro Jindong Cai. This innovative work is the first guzheng concerto to feature modulation bridges invented by suona virtuoso and instrument innovator Yazhi Guo. In 2024, Yixin was invited by the Canta International Association to perform at the Due Mondi Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria. Later that year, she appeared as a guzheng soloist at Carnegie Hall during the 2024 China Now Music Festival. In addition, Yixin has also performed at TEDx Sugarland, the Chinese Embassy in NYC, Houston, and Washington D.C., Lincoln Center, University of Maryland, Texas A&M University, Vassar College, and numerous festivals and galas across the U.S. She also remains active in outreach, bringing traditional Chinese music and culture to local schools, libraries, community centers, and cultural institutions throughout the United States.

Jin Trang started her guzheng journey this fall semester and will be continuing next winter. She is excited for the opportunity to play such a beautiful instrument. Jin is also learning other instruments like the guqin and dizi in her free time.

Anna Huang started playing the guzheng earlier this year at the China Institute under the instruction of Wang Yixin. She played the violin for 14 years starting at the age of 4 and hopes her new journey with the guzheng will reconnect her with her Chinese roots and her love of music. Anna currently works at the American Heart Association and is pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health at Emory University. She also enjoys painting, digital art, crocheting, video games, and playing with her Chihuahua mix Banfi in her leisure.

Sheng Xinde is an award-winning calligrapher with over forty years of dedicated practice, known for his mastery of brush and ink and his passion for teaching. He has won top honors including First Prize in the Calligraphy Competition of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the prestigious Korean Art Grand Award. He curated calligraphy exhibitions such as the first International Exhibition of Chinese Calligraphy in New York in 2014 and the second International Exhibition of Chinese Calligraphy in New York in 2017.  As President of the North American Chinese Calligraphers Association, Sheng is committed to sharing the beauty of this ancient art, having taught at Huaxia Chinese School, Flushing Public Library, Stony Brook Chinese School, and Manhasset Public Library.