Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1133773
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 JUNE 2019 5 THIS WEEK MUSIC percussion ent' marker in Music from the arts council in England, while the British Home Of- fice granted me an 'Excep- tional Talent' visa upon my graduation, which helped me to carry on developing my career in the UK as an artist. I've now settled down in London permanently, where I teach Chinese percussion at the SOAS University of Lon- don, all the while continuing to engage in artistic practice, collaborating with orches- tras, institutions and artists – pushing boundaries at every step of the way. How has studying abroad influenced both your outlook and musical output? The move to London changed my life tremendous- ly. London is a dynamic and diverse city hosting a vast variety of different cultures. Learning about different cul- tures and taking in fresh ide- as from so many of my fellow artists and friends has been very nourishing. My creative process has, in turn, been deeply influenced by these exciting surroundings. What were some of your key influences throughout your musical career, and how would you say they continue to reverberate in your music? Without a doubt, Tan Dun remains the key influence for my music. Playing Tan Dun's music for the first time introduced me to the world of contemporary and experimental music, which was a beautiful and inspir- ing learning process. He is an incredible artist, thinker and researcher. I am still absorb- ing his knowledge and ideas to this day, and doing my best to develop my own voice through this experience. You're also very well renowned for mixing various genres in your sound. What motivates you to adopt this flexible and democratic approach? Well, you see… I love show- ing people how to make a Chinese hot pot. Usually you throw in all sorts of veggies, tofu, lamb, beef and seafood into the soup mix. It is the eclectic combination that makes the soup so tasty, and a joy to anyone who tries it. This is exactly how I view my musical practice – and my life in general – right now: learning, collaborating and sharing with so many friends from varied backgrounds, creating a community that has no barriers or bounda- ries. Are you looking forward to performing at the Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF)? Certainly! It's a great hon- our to be part of such an amazing international arts festival. It is also very thrill- ing to discover the MIAF's great track record, which boasts an incredible mix of programmes, music, and crossover projects. It clearly is an exciting and forward- thinking festival. I enjoyed working with its new Artistic Director Ruben Zahra, even if we haven't physically met yet. But we've been discuss- ing the programme since last summer, and it was an in- spiring and fun process. It's worth mentioning that I will be giving two concerts during the MIAF. The first will be 'Temple Percussion'; a solo show at the Ħaġar Qim temples on July 3, and after that I will perform a solo show – the 'Water Concerto' by Tan Dun, where I will be a soloist alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, on July 6. What makes the experience even more exciting for me is that this will be my first- ever visit to Malta, and I'm very much looking forward to that! Are you excited to perform at the Hagar Qim temples? How will the site itself inform your music and performance? Absolutely! This is a beautiful surprise! I was totally amazed when I found out my first concert will be taking place in front of the Ħaġar Qim tem- ples. The music of the night will be perfectly matched to the scene. We will experience time travel through music, going back into ancient times and into the future. Beibei Wang will be perform- ing 'Temple Percussion' at the Ħaġar Qim temples on July 3 at 9pm, and 'Water Con- certo' on July 6 at 9pm. Both events form part of the Malta International Arts Festival programme. For more infor- mation and bookings, log on to: https://www.festivals.mt/ miaf I was totally amazed when I found out my first concert will be taking place in front of the Ħaġar Qim temples. The music of the night will be perfectly matched to the scene. We will experience time travel through music, going back into ancient times and into the future