MEI HAN
Zheng
One of the world’s premiere zheng artists, Mei Han is a groundbreaking virtuoso propelling the Chinese zheng into radical new dimensions of musical expression. Presenting music deeply rooted in over two thousand years of Chinese culture, Han is transforming this stately instrument into a powerful tool for the contemporary international concert stage. She is a consummate performer, appearing with leading artists around the world in a multitude of musical genres from symphonic, chamber and New Music; to traditional and World music; and from Creative Improvisation to electronic.
Han took the most sought after position in China at the age of nineteen, while others of her age were just starting their Conservatory training. This position as a featured soloist at the prestigious Beijing Zhan You Ensemble was due to her extensive private studies with China’s top zheng masters Zhang Yan and Gao Zicheng. After extensive touring with Zhan You, Han went on to become a rare blend of performer and scholar with two Master’s degrees in ethnomusicology, from the Musical Research Institute of the Chinese Arts Academy in Beijing (1995), considered internationally the most prestigious institute for Chinese music studies, and from the University of British Columbia (2000). Han received her Ph.D. in Ethnomusiclogy from UBC in 2013, was an Assistant Professor at Kenyon College in Ohio, and currently is an Associate Professor at Middle Tennessee State University.
A dynamic performer and innovator, Han has been exploring new directions for solo zheng and zheng in unique combinations with other instruments in a contemporary experimental aesthetic. Works written for, and premiered by, Han include a zheng concerto (by John Sharpley, premiered with China Philharmonic Orchestra), a composition for zheng and string quartet (by John Oliver, premiered with Borealis String Quartet) and a work for zheng and harpsichord (by Janet Danielson, premiered with Cynthia Hebert). In addition, she has performed works by leading new music composers from John Cage to Minoru Miki. Han is an active improvisor performing with a host of prominent free jazz, new music and world artists.
Learn more about Mei Han at mei-han.com