On the streets of Sydney, Australia, a young Chinese woman, wearing elegant hanfu, the traditional clothing of China, gracefully holds a dizi, the bamboo flute of China, fascinating passersby with the melodies of traditional Chinese music. The performer is Dong Min, a talented musician born in 1990.
After graduating from Minzu University of China with a major in Chinese bamboo flute, Dong registered at the University of New South Wales in Australia in 2015 to study curating ( 策 展 ) and cultural leadership. Dong quickly found like-minded friends passionate about Chinese traditional instruments. Then, she founded the Sydney Meya Conservatory(音乐学院) of Chinese Music.
Dong noticed a lack of awareness of Chinese traditional music in Australia. So, inspired by local performers using Western instruments for street performances, she started street performances with her conservatory members, showing traditional Chinese instruments in Sydney's Chinatown in 2016.
"Street performances offer a direct and visual way for people to experience Chinese music. By bringing it to the streets, we make it accessible to everyone, "she said.
As Dong's performances grew in popularity, snippets(片段) of her shows spread across social media, drawing in a larger audience. With over 1 million followers online, including nearly 150, 000 from international platforms, Dong's influence continues to grow.
Apart from her conservatory, Dong also offers online dizi lessons to a global audience and organizes online exchange concerts for her students worldwide. "I hope to create a platform for music enthusiasts to connect and build friendships through their shared love for music, "she said.
Ever since she arrived in Australia, Dong has noticed a growing interest in Chinese traditional music among local people. Many music schools now offer courses on Chinese instruments. "This demonstrates that traditional Chinese music is thriving (兴旺) not only in formal concert halls but also on the streets and within communities, "she said.
