Ensemble History: Music of China Ensemble

The Music of China Performance Group was formed during the 1959-60 academic year.  In May 1960, they performed in the “Festival of Oriental Music and the Related Arts,” presented by the UCLA Music Department, with Tsun-Yuen Lui performing on the pipa and the chin, and Mantle Hood serving as commentator. The group remained an extra-curricular “study group” until the 1964-65 academic year, when the course Music 45C/145C (Music of China) was offered for the first time. Instructors of the Music of China Ensemble include: Tsun-Yuen Lui (1965-91); graduate students Guangming Li and Cynthia Hsiang; and Chi Li (1998 to the present).

Tsun-Yuen Lui playing Chinese pipa Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Tsun-Yuen Lui playing Chinese qin Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Kun Opera (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney	Student playing Chinese zheng (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney
Chi Li playing Chinese erhu Photo: Courtesy Chi Li	Music of China drum ensemble (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney

Chi Li conducting the Music of China Ensemble (2006) Photo: Courtesy Chi Li
	Student playing Chinese erhu (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney