Dr. Xia is a guzheng performer, scholar, and educator specializing in Chinese music, intercultural collaboration, and the arts in health. A member of the Chinese Musicians Association and visiting professor at the Bard US-China Music Institute, she bridges traditional artistry and contemporary research through performance and scholarship.

Her artistry and contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Golden Bell Award—China’s most prestigious music award—the Master of Chinese Traditional Musical Instrument distinction from the California State Senate, the Master Artist Award from the Southwest Folklife Alliance, and the 30 Selected Leaders for the Future by the All American Chinese Youth Federation.

As a performing artist, Dr. Xia has toured internationally across Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the United States, appearing as concerto soloist with renowned orchestras including the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, China National Traditional Orchestra, and Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Her performances and artistic initiatives have been featured by the UK Chinese Journal, Radio New Zealand, NZ Herald, Tucson Lifestyle Magazine, Arizona Public Media, and other international outlets.

Deeply rooted in the guzheng’s classical tradition, Dr. Xia is equally passionate about exploring new sounds, techniques, and cross-cultural expressions. Her performing style—at once tranquil and powerful—reveals the instrument’s vast emotional range, inviting listeners to experience the beauty of nature, the vitality of life, and the light of humanity.

Beginning her guzheng studies at the age of four, Dr. Xia trained under leading Chinese masters and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the China Conservatory of Music. She later completed her Ph.D. in Applied Intercultural Arts Research at the University of Arizona, where her work focuses on the intersections of music, culture, and wellbeing. Her scholarly contributions include publications with the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) and presentations at the Association for Chinese Music Research (ACMR), the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD), and the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH).