乐手/音乐家 Musicians

Meet our talented musicians.

弹拨乐 (Plucked Instruments)

Photo of Xiaonan "Sunny" Sun

Xiaonan "Sunny" Sun

扬琴 (Yangqin / Chinese Dulcimer)

Xiaonan “Sunny” Sun is a renowned yangqin performer and the Artistic Director of Crescent Chinese Music Studio. She graduated from the Music Performance Yangqin program at the Music Department of Shandong University of Arts, with a minor in percussion.

After graduation, she worked with the Red Poppy Percussion Ensemble and then the Beijing Chinese Orchestra. In 2018, she joined Crescent Chinese Music Studio as Artistic Director, bringing deep professional experience in Chinese instrumental performance, ensemble direction, and traditional music education.

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Sunnie Ling

古筝 (Guzheng)

Sunnie Ling is a guzheng performer and educator specializing in traditional and contemporary Chinese music. She holds a Master of Arts in Chinese Music and Culture from Bard College Conservatory of Music, where she focused on guzheng performance and cross-cultural collaboration.

She began studying guzheng at age 10 and later trained under Professor Zhou Wang of the China Central Conservatory of Music. With over a decade of performance experience, Sunnie has appeared on major stages including Carnegie Hall and has participated in concerts, festivals, and cultural exchange events across the United States and China. She is passionate about sharing the voice of the guzheng with broader audiences through performance and education.

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Sunny Shang

琵琶 (Pipa)

Sunny Shang currently resides and works in North Carolina and has studied Pipa, the traditional Chinese instrument, for seven years in her early life. During her university days from 2006 to 2010, she was a member of the Central University of Finance and Economics Chinese Orchestra.

尚晓娟,现居北卡,学习琵琶七年,曾在 2006-2010 大学期间为中央财经大学民乐团成员。

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Liqi

评弹 / 琵琶 (Pingtan / Pipa)

Liqi is a professional Pingtan artist with a strong foundation in vocal performance and traditional Chinese music. She began her training at a young age under the guidance of a renowned music association president, later advancing her studies at the Suzhou Pingtan School, where she specialized in storytelling performance and pipa, the Chinese lute.

Liqi was admitted to the Suzhou Pingtan Troupe as a professional performer. She has appeared in numerous large-scale productions on China Central Television (CCTV), including participation in the prestigious CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

She toured extensively, representing Suzhou in performances across regions such as Xinjiang and Shenzhen, and was invited to perform at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

In addition to her stage career, Liqi has contributed to film and television productions, including acting roles, performing theme and insert songs for TV dramas, and serving as an artistic consultant.

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弦乐 (Bowed String Instruments)

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Ni Yuan

二胡 / 高胡 (Erhu / Gaohu)

Ni Yuan is an accomplished Erhu and Gaohu soloist. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Erhu Performance from Wuhan Conservatory of Music, and a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from Kent State University. Ni has extensive experience performing with Chinese instrumental orchestras and has performed solo in numerous concerts in China and the U.S.
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Liqi Zhang

二胡 (Erhu)

Liqi Zhang, is an Erhu musician and an electrical engineer. He started playing Erhu from age 4 and learned for 8 years. He keeps his passion about broadcasting Chinese music and culture, and teaching younger generations.
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管乐 (Wind Instruments)

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Cheng Liang

竹笛 / 中国大鼓 / 电萨克斯 (Dizi / Chinese Drum / Electric Saxophone)

Cheng Liang is a dizi musician and one of the early members of NC Chinese Music Ensemble. Since the ensemble’s beginning, he has contributed to its performances and community programs with a versatile musical background. In addition to Chinese bamboo flute, he is also skilled in Chinese percussion, especially Chinese drum, and electric saxophone.

程梁老师是北卡民乐团成立初期就加入的成员之一,主奏竹笛,并长期参与乐团演出与社区音乐活动。除竹笛外,程老师也擅长中国打击乐,尤其是中国大鼓,同时也演奏电萨克斯,为乐团带来丰富而多元的音色。

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Yanxin "Jeff" Luo

笛子 / 箫 / 吉他 (Dizi / Xiao / Guitar)

Yanxin “Jeff” Luo is a software student and former embedded engineer. He began playing the Dizi, the Chinese bamboo flute, at age ten. A versatile music lover, Jeff has founded and performed in folk and electro-acoustic bands, and is skilled in several instruments including the Xiao and guitar. He is passionate about sharing the vibrant sounds of Chinese woodwinds with the North Carolina community.

About the instrument: The Dizi is a traditional Chinese transverse flute with a history of over 9,000 years. Its unique, shimmering timbre is created by the Di Mo, a thin bamboo membrane that vibrates when played. Known for its expressive range, the Dizi can evoke both the peaceful stillness of nature and the jubilant energy of a festive celebration.

Jeff 是一名软件专业学生,也曾从事嵌入式工程工作。他十岁开始学习笛子,热爱多种音乐形式,曾组建并参与民谣乐队和电声乐队,也擅长箫、吉他等乐器。他希望把中国竹笛与丝竹管乐丰富而明亮的声音分享给北卡社区。

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打击乐 (Percussion Instruments)

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Cheng Liang

打击乐 (Percussion)

Cheng Liang is one of the early members of NC Chinese Music Ensemble and a versatile musician with a strong interest in both traditional and contemporary Chinese ensemble music. In percussion, he performs across Chinese and Western instruments, including cajon, chime bar, drum, cymbals, and woodblock, bringing rhythmic color and expressive support to new Chinese music arrangements.

程梁老师是北卡民乐团成立初期就加入的成员之一。作为打击乐演奏者,他兼具中、西打击乐经验,曾在乐团演出中使用卡洪箱、钟音条,也演奏鼓、镲、木鱼等打击乐器,为新民乐合奏增添丰富的节奏层次与音色变化。

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