Our Community Member

Elvira van Groningen is a Dutch violinist, regularly performing with orchestras such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Aurora Orchestra. Alongside her playing commitments, she is a teacher in Timani, a somatic method for musicians. Most recently, Elvira completed an MSc in Performance Science with distinction at the RCM in London

Rudrani Baruah is a Certified Indian Music Therapist and treats patients with diabetes, hypertension, Insomnia, arthritis, asthma, depression, etc by using the Sur Sanjeevan method of Indian Music Therapy. Currently, she is doing M.Sc. in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music. Her recent research interests aim to find out the effects of music on sensory perceptual system of older adults. She is also a trained vocalist of Indian Classical Music and holds a Visharad degree, an equivalent degree to a Bachelor of Music.Apart from Music, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Lifestyle Accessory Design from NationalInstitute of Fashion Technology, India.

Yudi Cao，Master’s student at the University of Edinburgh with a strong background in music education and performance. Trained in the pipa since childhood, with multiple national and international awards including the Gold Medal of the National Teenager Art Show, the Singapore International Silver Prize, and the U.S. Jinshan Cup Ensemble Bronze Award. During studies in the UK, invited to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe immersive theater Personallery 4.0 as a pipa performer and AI music producer of Libertango, the Chinese Music Ensemble at Edinburgh Central Library, and a Cambridge memorial concert. Combining academic research in music education with extensive stage experience, dedicated to promoting innovation in traditional music and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Chris began playing cello when he was four years old and learnt with Sue Lowe from the age of seven. He performed regularly during his time at school, and in 2013, he gave the Young Artist recital for the Minehead and Exmoor Music Festival. Chris studied music at the University of Cambridge between 2015 and 2018, and was presented with the London Girton Association Award at the beginning of his final year. He gave regular solo recitals and also enjoyed playing principal and co-principal cellist in a multitude of orchestras, including the University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. In 2021 he completed his Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Tim Lowe. During his time at Guildhall, he was co-principal cellist of several orchestral projects, as well as playing in a variety of chamber ensembles. Chris currently works as a freelance musician in London, combining performing and teaching. He enjoys playing in a variety of styles, ranging from symphony orchestras to musicals to chamber ensembles.

born (2004) in Lincolnshire, is a Bachelor of Music (Honours) student at London's Royal College of Music, in Composition and second-study Piano. He is currently studying under professors Kenneth Hesketh, William Mival, and Kathryn Sturrock, and has additionally benefitted from individual sessions with composers Dani Howard, Judith Weir, Dr. Christopher Fox, and recently participated in a masterclass with Mark-Anthony Turnage.

Xiaqiangege Liu is a collaborative pianist and ballet accompanist based in London. A graduate with distinction in collaborative piano from the Royal Northern College of Music, she has built a diverse career as a performer across the UK and Europe. As a young artist, she has appeared at festivals such as the Pienza International Music Festival in Italy and the IPAI Summer Festival in Germany, giving chamber performances and piano accompaniment. Her performance highlights also include concerts at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester where she collaborated with instrumentalists, further establishing her reputation as an expressive musician. She has also worked with Chinese Kunqu opera artists in UK concerts, presenting innovative cross-cultural programs.

Ze Luo, currently based in London, is a pianist and music educator active in the UK. A graduate of Wuhan Conservatory of Music and the University of York, she has won multiple piano competition awards and is passionate about exploring diverse musical styles. Alongside her piano expertise, she has also received formal vocal training, equipping her with a well-rounded skill set in both piano and voice. Ze is committed to fostering musical appreciation and delivering scientific music education to a wide audience.

Ji Zekun is a young composer and pianist who has won the Honorary Award at the Bartók International Composition Competition and the Second Prize at the Vytautas Bacevičius International Composition Competition in Lithuania. His work, “Lament for Piano,” has been selected as a designated piece for the 2025 Vytautas Bacevičius International Piano Competition. He has performed Messiaen's “Turangalîla Symphony” with the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre. He obtained a master's degree from the Royal Academy of Music with distinction, specializing in composition and piano.

Chinese bamboo flute (dizi) performer, graduated from the University of York. He has performed at the “Blossoms” concert at the University of Leeds, the Manchester Mid-Autumn Festival, and was invited to appear on stage at the Royal College of Music in London. Passionate about the fusion of traditional Chinese music with diverse performance platforms, he is dedicated to exploring the unique expressive power of the dizi in international musical contexts.

Wei Wang is an experienced practitioner of tradition Chinese Theatre performing arts (Jingju - Beijing Opera, and Kunqu - Kun Opera). Graduated from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Wei learnt vocal, piano, and accordion from childhood. Wei is also good at other Chinese singing styles (art song, ethnic song). She learnt Beijing Opera (Jingju) for nine years with Professor Zhang Jing of National Academy of Chinese Theatre Art (director of MeiLanFang Art Foundation) and Kun Opera (Kunqu) with Kong Aiping (president of Jiangsu Provincial Kunqu Theatre). Wei sings in the Qing Yi (female role) in the Mei School, including "Yu Tang Chun", "Farewell My Concubine", "The Drunken Concubine", "The Heavenly Maid Scatters Flowers", "Xi Shi", "Silang Visits His Mother", "Wu Jia Po", "The Broken Bridge", "The Peony Pavilion", etc. She has been active in many domestic and international art performances.

Grace Zheng, a guzheng performer, graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is currently a consultant at a management consulting firm in London and serves as the president of the Southwest University of Finance and Economics UK Alumni Association. She has performed numerous solo and ensemble concerts on the guzheng, dedicated to healing the mind through music. She is currently contributing to fundraising efforts for Samaritans, a charitable organization focused on mental health.

Orina Zhao is a pipa player based in London and Berlin. She is originally from China and has studied and lived in mainland China, Taiwan, the UK, and Germany.  Having studied the Chinese string instrument pipa since childhood, Orina has explored her identity through cross-cultural experiences and sought a deeper spiritual connection by blending different instruments and art forms. She views music as a universal language that transcends cultural and national boundaries, capable of conveying shared emotions and fostering a spiritual resonance between people. Orina joyfully shares the unique charm of the pipa with her audience, demonstrating how this ancient instrument bridges East and West, spans past and present, and resonates with an eternal and unceasing melody.

Wenfei Liu, pipa player and multimedia artist, graduated from Cardiff University with a BSc and MA. A global talent endorsed by Arts Council England. Experienced in pipa solo and orchestra performance, music production as well as film and video production. She started learning the pipa at the age of 5, and in 2017 she formed the band "Tsiang Card" and toured several cities in China, exploring the fusion of the traditional Chinese instrument with rock music and releasing several albums. In Wales, she joined the Resonant programme and has been involved in curating a number of live music performances. From China to Wales to England, she has been exploring the fusion of sound, culture and music with immersive experiences.

Dr. Zhou Tie is a composer, conductor, music producer, screenwriter, and editor. He is a member of the Hainan Provincial Music Association and a high-level talent introduced to Hainan Province. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the Royal Academy of Music in the UK and a PhD from Cardiff University in the UK. He previously served as the Minister of Culture and Arts of the 29th All-England Students' Union. His works have won numerous awards and have been performed in over 40 countries and regions worldwide. He is currently a faculty member at Hainan Tropical Ocean University.

She educated privately with soprano Meta Powell, Yiyi has performed operas with companies including Brent Opera, Ellandar, Harrow Opera, Instant Opera, and The Opera Makers. She also regularly performs in conerts as a soloist at venus throughout the UK. In August she made her Camden Fringe debut with 'Clique Bait: the musical' and attended Barefoot Opera's summer course.

Yang currently pursuing a PGCE in Secondary Music Education, with Grade 8 piano/vocal and Grade 6 music theory qualifications from the Royal Academy of Music. Has performed in over 70 concerts, collaborating with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, performing Mahler symphony series and music from The Lord of the Rings films.

Xie Meng, soprano with the Royal Choral Society (RCS) in the UK, regularly performs at the Royal Albert Hall. She holds a second degree in Digital Music from the Central Conservatory of Music. She has participated in the London International Choir, the West End Musical Theatre Choir, and performed at events such as London Fashion Week, the Paris Disney Musical Theatre, and the London Spring Festival Gala. She won the Gold Award at the German Brahms International Choir Competition with the China-Germany Pastoral Choir. She is a keyboardist and lead vocalist in a band, passionate about exploring the fusion of classical and pop music, as well as Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Pianist Yayi Tian is a versatile musician, active both as a soloist and as a collaborator with instrumentalists, composers, and artists across diverse genres. Her recent engagements include a solo recital at the historic Holywell Music Room in Oxford, presented by Oxford Global Culture. She is currently pursuing the Doctor of Music degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of York and is currently pursuing a master's degree at the  university, majoring in vocal performance Bel Canto. Over the past five years, she has been actively involved in various choirs, performing a diverse repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary vocal works, demonstrating remarkable versatility and artistic expression. During her undergraduate studies, she dedicated herself to learning four foreign languages and successfully held multiple solo recitals, showcasing her passion and refined vocal artistry. With a voice that is both captivating and expressive, she brings boundless energy and enthusiasm to the stage, delivering performances that deeply resonate with her audience.

Yaxin Zhang is a second-year PhD candidate in Music Education and Psychology from the University of York. Her research aims to investigate the prevalence of Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) among adolescents studying in China and to explore music teaching methods in helping them to avoid anxiety and to enjoy performance. She also explores music teachers’ perceptions on their ability to support adolescent students.

​Yingzi is a recent Master graduate in Vocal Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has a passion for connecting and showcasing Welsh and Chinese cultures through music. She became the first Chinese prize winner at the National Eisteddfod in Wales. While being active on operatic stages, she is also developing her popularity on concert stages around Wales and China. As an performance curator, she has organised performances embracing different cultures in the Shanghai Concert Hall, St.Fagans National Museum in Cardiff, and Lunar New Year Concert Series in Wales.

Sirou Yan  is  PhD at Hongkong University， completed her master degree at the University of Edinburgh. She received distinction in her dissertation on her thesis, ‘The 90-second spectacle: Exploring the formulaic pattern and paratextuality of opening and ending musicsequences in contemporary anime TV series’, which uses textual analysis method in summarising the formula of the interaction between music and images of comtemporary Japanese anime. This interdisciplinary innovative research has won unanimous praise from faculty and department instructors for its pioneering work.

Ruyan Zhang completed her first master degree from University of York and is studying her second master degree in China Conservatory of Music, majoring in Bel Canto. She is publicizing Chinese traditional culture and trying to combine Chinese hanfu with her performance, in order to manage MPA during performance better

Dr. Can Zhang is an associate professor and a postgraduate tutor at Central South Forestry University of Science and Technology. She did her PhD degree at Hunan Normal University. She is also a visiting scholar at Royal College of Music (RCM). From 2013-2015, she studied with Prof. Xu Yi and Prof. Chen Xing from Shanghai Conservatory of Music and with Prof. Elena from Russia. In 2019, Dr. Zhang studied with Prof. Antonina from St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music, Russia. In the same year, she participated in many international vocal masterclasses and was honoured by Prof. Franz Donner from University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria, and Prof. Michele Procelli from Conservatory of Music Verdi in Milan, Italy.

​Xixi Shen is a PhD candidate in Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University. She serves both as a Graduate Research Assistant at the FSU Center for Music and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for group piano classes. She is a certified judge for the Florida State Music Teacher Association.

Suzuna Hamada is a postgraduate student from Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan, and studied at Royal College of Music as an exchange student. She won the first place and chairman’s award in “Great Wall Cup International Music Competition”, silver award in Kyoto International Music Competition, and the second place in Junior Classical Music Competition in Japan.

Ziyang, currently based in London, is an internationally acclaimed Erhu musician, with a distinguished background from the China Central Conservatory of Music and University College London. She has showcased her talents in over 10 countries and 30 cities, gracing prestigious venues such as the Barbican Centre, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts. Ziyang has led masterclasses at SOAS and at Royal Academy of Music, and she served as a judge for Chinese music festivals in 2024. Her achievements include winning numerous international competition, records by Sony Music and Universal Studios, and collaborations with Tate Modern. Her music continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

Hailu Ni is currently a PhD student in Musicology at University of Manchester. She graduated from University of Sheffield with a master degree in Music Performance Studies. She participated in various concerts and international competitions. Hailu, a passionate soprano with an enchanting voice, has soulful and ethereal vocals that provide a wonderful, pleasant, airy and enjoyable listening experience.

An experimentalist at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, graduated with a master's degree in Music Aesthetic Psychology from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She is a member of the International Association for Music and Medicine, a member of the secretariat of the International Federation for Intelligent Arts and Creative Design in Higher Education, a member of the Chinese Society for Music Psychology, a member of the Shanghai Society for Neuroscience, a national level - 3 psychological counselor, and an intellectual property professional. Her main work involves cognitive function testing, early detection and screening of neurodegenerative diseases, music psychology, music therapy, CBTi (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), cognitive neuroscience, phonetic pitch features and sound visualization, and the "reproducibility" crisis in psychology.

A young guzheng artist active on the international stage, holds a master's degree in Music Industry Studies from the University of Liverpool and is currently based in London. She has years of experience in youth guzheng education in China, earning multiple awards. Since moving to the UK in 2020, she has performed at prestigious venues such as the Yoko Ono Centre at the University of Liverpool, the Natural History Museum, and Watford Palace Theatre, promoting Chinese traditional culture. Her exceptional talent has made her a rising figure in the guzheng world.

Gao is a Master's student at Xi'an Conservatory of Music. With seven years of experience in Ethnomusicology, she focuses on Chinese traditional music, soundscapes, and cultural identity. Her research areas include Ethnomusicology and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding .

Yun Ke Li is currently a PhD (Ethnomusicology) candidate at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. She earned her Master of Arts in Chinese Instrumental Music Performance from Xi’an Conservatory of Music, China, in 2021. Her Ethnomusicology academic journey started in Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. As a trained musician, she also participated Mek Mulung rebana, gong and kecerek performances with UiTM in 2023, and accompanied original songs on the pipa in the "With Your Whole World" concert with the UPM Jazz Band in 2023. Additionally, she gave two solo pipa concerts in Xi'an in 2019 and 2021.

​young Chinese pianist based in the UK, is currently pursuing a Master's degree at the Royal College of Music, study with Prof. Richard Uttley and Prof. Simon Lepper. Also graduated from Sun Yat-sen University School of Arts where he completed double major in Piano and Vocal Performance.He excels in interpreting narrative-driven and melodically rich compositions. He had experience performing in many famous concert hall like Shenzhen Concert Hall, Carnegie Halls and Vienna's Musikverein Golden Hall.