The Guzheng has been a popular instrument in China since ancient times, and is one of the primary chamber and solo instruments of Chinese traditional music. A plucked
string instrument that is part of the zither family, it is one of the
most ancient Chinese musical instruments, and is the forerunner
of the Japanese Koto.
Well-known guzheng soloist, Bing Xia, learned guzheng from virtuoso, Professor Yan AiHua at the Nanjing Normal University in China. After advanced studies in guzheng performance at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with Professor He Baoquan, her professional career began as a guzheng soloist in the 'Xuzhou city Song and Dance Ensemble' in Xuzhou, China. Since then, Ms. Xia has won a number of awards in national guzheng competitions. She has been a featured performer at the Smithsonian Institute, the Smithsonian Freer Gallery, the Kennedy Center, and the Strathmore Music Center. Her performances have been broadcast nationwide by NPR and Voice of America, and she has praised in reviews by the Washington Post, for her "overwhelming artistry of (the) guzheng"!
