Los Angeles-based guzheng performer and composer Annie Zhou won Best World Music at the 2026 Hollywood Independent Music Awards. The ceremony took place July 30 at Avalon Hollywood.
Zhou received the award for “404: Lost in Neon,” an original composition that combines the traditional Chinese guzheng with modern musical elements. Leo Anthony produced the track, while Kristopher Carter handled mixing and mastering.
A Recording Academy voting member, Zhou specializes in the traditional 21-string Chinese guzheng. Her performance credits include the Emmy Award-winning Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration, the National Gallery of Art’s New Spring Concert, the Pacific Symphony Lunar New Year Concert, and cultural festivals across the United States.
Her original compositions have also appeared in PBS programming, U.S. Department of Energy projects, films, and other media productions. In addition, Zhou is affiliated with the Society of Composers & Lyricists and ASCAP.
“Winning this award at the HIMA is an incredible honor,” said Zhou. “’404: Lost in Neon’ represents a bridging of traditional world music traditions with contemporary sounds, and I’m deeply grateful to HIMA and listeners for supporting world instrumental music and independent artistic vision.”
For more information about Annie Zhou, visit anniezhouguzheng.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central