Beyond the Notes, Bridging Cultures: Interpretation Tips for Conductors Navigating Chinese-Inspired Repertoire
Clinic Synopsis:
Music is more than notes—it carries history, culture, and meaning. Conductors bring a composer’s story to life, but interpreting Chinese-influenced wind band music requires cultural and musical understanding. In this presentation, Meijun Chen and Gao Hong will examine the intersection of Chinese and Western traditions, offering insights into interpretation, phrasing, tone color, and articulation, while addressing diversity, representation, and cross-cultural collaboration in wind band music.
Meijun Chen
- Biographical Information
Meijun Chen is the Director of Concert Winds at the University of British Columbia School of Music and is completing her Doctor of Music in Wind Band Conducting at the University of Alberta under Dr. Angela Schroeder. A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, Meijun has worked with collegiate bands, orchestras, and community choirs and adjudicated at festivals across Canada, including MusicFest Canada and numerous festivals in British Columbia. She has served as the Emerging Artist – Assistant Conductor with Edmonton Opera and the Edmonton Youth Orchestra Conducting Intern. Meijun has received scholarships and grants supporting her conducting studies in Canada, Austria, and the U.S. She won Absolute First Prize in Conducting at the 2023 UK International Music Competition and has been a Conducting Fellow at prestigious masterclasses, including the 2024 Domaine Forget, the 2023 United States "Pershing’s Own" Army Band Conductors Workshop, and the 2023 CCM International Wind Festival, in conjunction with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Also an award-winning clarinetist, Meijun has performed in 13 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America and won Absolute First Prize in Clarinet Performance at the 2023 Debussy International Music Competition. She holds dual MMus degrees in Wind Band Conducting and Clarinet Performance and a BA in Music with a minor in Economics from the University of Alberta. She serves on the Women Band Directors International Scholarships Committee and is affiliated with various professional music and education organizations.
Gao Hong - Biographical Information
Gao Hong, a pipa virtuoso and composer, graduated from Beijing’s prestigious Central Conservatory of Music. Since arriving in the U.S., she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and international festivals in Paris, Milan, and Perth. She has played concertos with major orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the China National Traditional Orchestra. In 2017, she became the first Chinese musician to perform the U.S. National Anthem on pipa at an NBA game. Gao has received top honors, including five McKnight Artist Fellowships and the Bush Artist Fellowship. Her pipa method book, the first in English, is published by Hal Leonard. She has composed for ensembles such as the Minnesota Orchestra, The President's Own U.S. Marine Band, and Zeitgeist. Her albums, Alondra, Terri Kunda, and From Our World to Yours, won multiple Global Music Awards and were released on ARC Music. Recognized for her contributions to music, she was honored with Gao Hong Day in St. Paul, MN, in 2022. She teaches at Carleton College and is a guest professor at major conservatories in China. A Recording Academy voting member, she serves on multiple arts boards. Her compositions and performances have been featured internationally, including on NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Gao continues to inspire as a performer, composer, and educator, bridging cultures through music.
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