Download CHEN Xiyao (Yao) ZHANG Yi (Johnny)

CHEN Xiyao (Yao)
Chen Xiyao (Yao) was born and raised in a well-known
traditional Chinese musical family in Beijing, China.
His grandfather was a famous composer and guzheng
master and his mother is a guzheng professor who holds the
"National First Rank Performer” title in China.
Yao currently works at Wintec’s commercial music
department as a master student supervisor and recently has
been asked to be a guest professor at the Beijing
Contemporary Music Academy in China.
In 2011, with the support of Hamilton West MP Tim
Macindoe, Yao was granted a work-to-residence visa by New
Zealand Immigration, under the Talent (Arts, Culture and
Sports) category.
Yao has now officially immigrated to New Zealand under the “Exceptional Talent ”category.
Yao is the first Chinese musician, who plays the Chinese musical instrument guzheng, to be
recognised by the New Zealand Government
In Feb 2015, Yao was invited by NZ Ministry of Ethnic Affairs to perform in front of Prime
Minister Hon. John Key, Chinese Ambassador Wang Lu Tong and other guests at the
Chinese New Year function held in Parliament.
Yao has great hopes to become the first cultural ambassador to represent Chinese culture in
New Zealand.
ZHANG Yi (Johnny)
Zhang Yi has been learning the erhu since eight years of age
and was the last disciple of a great master Shen Fengquan who
is the topmost Chinese performer, and educator.
When Zhang Yi was 16 years old, he passed the Chinese
National Musical Instruments Artistic Cultivation Performance
test specialising in the erhu, and reaching the 10th degree (top
level).
Since 2007, Zhang Yi (Johnny) has been studying at the
University of Waikato, gaining a Master’s Degree from the
management school. And he has actively participated in many
performances around New Zealand, gaining a well-established
reputation.
July2016