About
Dr. Di Zhang is an improvisor, ethnomusicologist, composer, and a yangqin virtuoso active in Toronto’s music scene. She got her master’s and PhD’s degree in Music from York University and Bachelor's degree in Chinese music performance from Minchu University in China, Beijing. She is especially interested in improvisation pedagogy, contemporary musicianship and composition, and ethnomusicology. She was taking part in York’s Global Improvisation Lab and World Music Ensemble. Her research thus far has revolved around the cultural study of the instruments, Chinese music notation, improvisation pedagogy, improvisation in both Chinese and Western music, the Influence of the Silk Road and China’s New Government on the development of Chinese music, and analysis and innovation in modern yangqin music.
In Canada, Di is an instructor at Amigu di Macau and North American Chinese Orchestra, and performs with the Toronto YueFang Ensemble, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and Melody of Bamboo Ensemble. She has performed at Toronto Music Garden, Wilfred Laurier University, and University of Toronto, among others. Di is also an accomplished percussionist, performing Chinese drumming at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In 2014, Di performed yangqin and Chinese drum with the Canadian Sinfonietta at the CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio. Tours have led Di to performances in Vancouver, Portugal, Macau, and Mainland China. In 2017, she held her solo concert at York University Tribute Communities Recital Hall.
In China, Di was accepted into the Chinese Nationalities Orchestra Society when she was 7- years old. In 2001, she got accepted by the primary music school of China’s Central University of Nationalities and studied with yangqin virtuoso Xue Shu and an acclaimed professor Xili Gui. As an undergraduate student at the Conservatory, Di continuously studied with them and held her solo concert at Minzu University Recital Hall, graduating as a top student in 2012. During that time, she developed both as an orchestral musician in Beijing’s Central Orchestra of Ethnic Minorities and as a soloist, winning the top award for dulcimer performance at the first International Community Art Festival national instrument contest (Singapore 2010), the “Hua Yi Award” for best musical performance (Macao 2005), etc.
Di is dedicated to and passionate about the promotion of new and original music. Di aims to pursue advanced music studies while continuing to perform, teach, explore, and share new music with diverse cultures.