Wu talks to Wellsville’s oldest social club about ancient music, offers stunning performance
From Nora Burdick, Monday Club Publicist
How can one capture the majesty of mountains or the character of a flowing river? For a musical virtuoso, the answer is through music. Monday Club members were captivated as Dr. Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu shared her journey as a musician and performer of the ancient Chinese instrument known as the guzheng.
They were equally spellbound by her performance of the classical piece High Mountains and Flowing Water, which she vividly brought to life. In Chinese culture, music is often viewed as a bridge across languages, histories, and ways of thinking; High Mountains and Flowing Water embodies the ideal of harmony between humanity and nature.
Born in China to accomplished musicians, Daisy received her earliest guzheng instruction from her parents. After immigrating to the United States, she continued refining her artistry through dedicated practice, performance, and advanced musical study. She later earned a doctorate in music and completed a musical residency at Carleton College in Minnesota’s Twin Cities region.
As a Clinical Associate Professor of Music and Language at Alfred University, Daisy helps ensure that the guzheng remains a vibrant musical tradition. Through the university’s Guzheng Course program, which she directs, she introduces students to Chinese music and provides hands-on instruction in this ancient instrument. Her teaching is cultivating a new generation of guzheng musicians.
