Zhao Xiaoxia is a prominent figure in the preservation and innovation of the guqin, combining traditional and contemporary approaches to the Chinese zither. She serves as president of the Zixia Guqin Academy, vice president of the International Guqin Society, and executive director of China’s Academy of Guqin Culture. She has also authored Preliminary Examination of Guang Ling Verse and edited bilingual guqin courses, including Easy Learning of Chinese Music – Guqin and 12 Lessons for Quick Introduction to Guqin.
Her guqin training began at age nine under Ms. Yu Qinqin, a master of the Sichuan style. In 1995, she became a student of Professor Li Xiangting at the Central Conservatory of Music, where she now teaches as a master’s-level guqin tutor.
Zhao has received significant recognition for her talent. She won the Gold Medal in the guqin category at the 2007 CCTV National Instrumental Music Competition and performed for world leaders at major international events, including the 2014 APEC Summit, the 2016 UNESCO Award Ceremony, the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Qingdao Summit, and the 2019 Beijing World Horticultural Exposition. Her performance of People Are Everything at the 2019 Basketball World Cup reflected themes of coexistence and prosperity.
She has collaborated with prestigious orchestras such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the China National Symphony Orchestra. Since 2011, she has participated in world tours featuring composer Tan Dun’s Martial Arts Trilogy. Her multimedia project Wan Who?, created with visual artist Asbo and producer Soulspeak, was featured at SXSW.
Zhao has recorded over ten albums, with Guqin winning Best Art Award and Best Production Award at the 2018 Fever Album Chart and Yu Meiren Qin Ge receiving top government publishing honors in 2016. She has also contributed to TV drama soundtracks, including Confucius.
Now an honorary citizen of Seine, France, Zhao Xiaoxia continues to advance the global presence of the guqin, performing modern concertos, chamber music, and crossover works. Her efforts have significantly contributed to bringing this ancient instrument to international prominence in the modern era.
Partial Discography:
Musical Map of China – Hearing Chinese Traditional Music – Classical Gu Qin Music II (Rhymoi Music, 2021)
Prelude to the Divine Realm, with Gao Hong (Naxos World Music, 2025)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.