Jing Xia, Guzheng Player. Tucson, AZ  |  2023

Jing Xia is a master of the guzheng (plucked 21-string Chinese zither), an instrument played as both court and folk music and traces its roots back to the sixth century. Jing started learning the zither at age four in China and was guided by various teachers in her community. Since moving to Tucson over a decade ago, she has been engaged in building bridges of cultural understanding by guzheng performance and collaborations with musicians from diverse cultures. Now renowned in Arizona, she works to transmit her knowledge through workshops, lessons, and performances. Her apprentices are Jodie Kwong and Rita Cai, and together they will work on the history, aesthetics, storytelling, and wellness practices of guzheng music.