On Thursday and Saturday, Dong Yi will perform guzheng concerts at the Memorial Hall of Peking University and the Zhongshan Music Hall.

Dong was born in Northwest China's Gansu Province and grew up in Beijing. She has engaged in many musical activities with European artists and introduced Chinese traditional music to her European audience.

These concerts mark the first time the 20-year-old college student has performed on her home stage.

Dong began her musical education at age seven and kept improving her skills on the multi-stringed zither-like guzheng under the instruction of renowned experts like Cao Zheng.

When she was 16, Dong Yi had her first CD "Hangong Qiuyue (Autumn Moon over Han Palace)" published by the China Recording Company, and two years later she starred as the leading performer in an MTV titled "Lin'an Yihen (Remorse of Lin'an)," which depicted patriotic feelings of ancient Chinese.

The MTV was the first of its kind featuring guzheng in China, with an interesting plot combining dancing on historical backgrounds.

Not only has Dong Yi gained great success domestically, she also received recognition abroad. In May of 2003, "Lin'an yihen" was awarded "the best musical" and "special new star" by the appraising committee at the 21st Century International MTV Art Festival in Budapest.

In 2001 her musical talent brought her a chance to study at the University of Edinburgh, where she is currently majoring in Western economics.

The two concerts in Beijing will feature classic guzheng music such as "Qingshang Diao (Tune of Qingshang)" which expresses homesickness.

Accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of China Central Opera Theatre, Dong Yi will offer her dynamic, enthusiastic and exquisite performance, merged with high skills of traditional and modern types.

Conductor He Zhanhao is also a famous composer, whose representative work "Butterfly Lovers" will also be part of the show.

(China Daily September 9, 2003)