From the Golden Age to the Modern Era: A Musical Odyssey of East Asia

This concert introduces the history of the yangqin and its diverse regional and folk traditions, guiding the audience on a musical journey across China through sound, storytelling, and performance.

This performance will include selections from different eras and styles, along with brief introductions to provide an overview of the musical journey.

Di Zhang (MA, Ph.D., Music – York University) is a performer-scholar and postdoctoral researcher at the Music and Health Institution & The Royal, University of Ottawa. She has performed at venues including the Toronto Music Garden, York University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Toronto, and presented lecture-performances at the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto. Her tours span Canada and international locations such as Macau, China, and Portugal.

Specializing in ethnomusicology, improvisation, and composition, she has led initiatives like York University’s Global Improvisation Lab, World Music Ensemble, and Bayin Ensemble. Her album The Path to Contemporary features original yangqin works blending Chinese traditions with jazz and contemporary styles.

Her research examines the yangqin’s cultural history, improvisation pedagogy, and music education in China. Currently, she focuses on music and health, particularly aging, exploring how music enhances emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being.

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