Concert and public defense Rachel Xi Zhang

Arising from existence and non-existence. Drawing inspiration from the marimba

Where? Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Concert Hall, Rue de Régence 30 Brussels. 

When? 25th of February at 5.30 pm.

Enrolment? If you want to join for a drink after the public defense (which will end at 9pm), please send an e-mail to Inge.Pieters@vub.be before 21/02

Only joining for the concert and the presentation? That's possible. The concert will end at about 7pm. Enrolment not necessary

About the concert

Where to find space in marimba performance for the expression of all musical elements needed to convey ones musical intentions? As mathematics are a tool for humans to establish equal conjectures, musical performance cannot be described and evaluated by equations and formulas. Rachel Xi Zhang has created an experiëntial defense, using all five senses, to give an impression of the sounds of Laozi and thoughts of the singing wood; a place where one can hear the ancient sound travelling through a long lasting mystical philosophical thread, yet coming to show itself, at our gathering- giving the possibility to open the sixth sense.

About Rachel Xi Zhang

A concert soloist, half of the renowned Joint Venture Percussion Duo and core member of the new music sextet Looptail, Rachel Xi Zhang actively performs on world-class stages both at home and abroad. In solo and duo capacities, she has been awarded multiple international awards. Rachel Xi Zhang has been invited at various international marimba festivals.

She received her bachelor’s degree in 2010, graduating cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. From 2010 to 2014, she continued her studies at the Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship under famed marimba virtuoso Nancy Zeltsman. Upon receiving a master’s degree and Artist Diploma at Boston, Rachel was named a Marimba One Artist. She enroled at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel as a PhD in Arts student in 2014 (with Jan Michiels as academic advisor and Bart Quartier as artistic advisor) and continues her international career through constant collaborations with colleagues in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 

Picture by Claudia Hansen