Artistic Director – Ms. Bing Xia

Ms. Bing Xia is an acclaimed guzheng soloist and educator, widely recognized both in China and throughout the Washington, D.C. area. She began studying the guzheng at the age of eight and went on to receive formal training at Nanjing Normal University under Professors Yan Aihua and Tu Yongmei. She later pursued advanced studies at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with renowned guzheng masters He Baoquan and Sun Wenyan.

Ms. Xia launched her professional career as a soloist with the Xuzhou City Song and Dance Ensemble in China. Since moving to the United States, she has performed at some of the nation’s most prestigious venues, including the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, and a wide range of cultural festivals and institutions. Her appearances include performances for the Smithsonian Institution, University of Maryland, DC City Council, U.S. Department of Energy, IMF, FCC, FDA, Export-Import Bank, U.S. Secret Service, George Mason University, BlackRock Center for the Arts, and the Strathmore Music Center. In January 2009, she was honored to perform at the Smithsonian Institution with support from the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Celebrated for both her artistry and dedication to education, Ms. Xia has led her students to win top honors in national guzheng competitions. Her influence extends beyond the stage, contributing to multimedia projects such as the globally popular video game Civilization VI. Her performances have been featured on NPR and Voice of America, further cementing her reputation as a cultural ambassador.

The Washington Post praised her performances as "overwhelmingly artistic," a testament to her expressive power and musical excellence. Through both performance and teaching, Ms. Xia continues to elevate and share the beauty of traditional Chinese music with audiences and students around the world.

🎧 Listen to Bing Xia’s featured recording:
Chinese Music of the Seasons – Bing Xia (Smithsonian Asia Archives)

Chinese Music for the Phoenix- Bing Xia and Rujia Teng ( Performed in the Sackler Gallery on July 27, 2013, and presented in conjunction with the exhibition Nine Deaths, Two Births: Xu Bing's Phoenix Project.)