Exploring new ways to expand the instrument’s expressive possibilities and foster meaningful musical exchange across cultures.

Biography

Xizhe Zhu, a Chinese guzheng performer whose musical journey began at the age of four. Alongside her academic studies in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Warwick, she has continued to develop her performance career through appearances on stages across the UK, sharing the expressive richness of the guzheng with audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Her performance highlights include appearing at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center with an orchestra from the Shanghai Theatre Academy in the guzheng concerto Lin’an Regret 临安遗恨. In 2026, she premiered Nüan 囡, a commissioned work, at the London Chinese International Music Festival. Her achievements also include a Gold Award at the 17th Future Stars National Arts Talent Competition and Second Prize at the London Chinese International Music Festival.

With a particular interest in cross-cultural musical exchange, Xizhe champions innovative works that bring Chinese musical traditions into dialogue with contemporary influences from different cultures. Alongside performing, she is developing her own creative practice through composition and arrangement for the guzheng, exploring new ways to expand the instrument’s expressive possibilities and foster meaningful musical exchange across cultures.