New Zealand Chinese Orchestra

15 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026

"Encounter with Chinese Bamboo and Silk" Music Salon at Glenfield Library

Glenfield Library, 90 Bentley Avenue, Auckland

The NZ Chinese Orchestra is coming to Glenfield Library for a folk music salon titled "Encounter with Silk and Bamboo". This salon blends traditional Chinese folk music with pieces of diverse styles, featuring classic Jiangnan ballads and cross-genre arrangements, along with interactive sessions for the audience. Amid the quiet atmosphere filled with the scent of books, experience the unique tones of silk-and-bamboo instruments and the border-transcending power of music. 📌Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Sunday, 15 November 2026 📌Venue: Glenfield Library, 90 Bentley Avenue, Auckland All music lovers are welcome. Admission is free.

29 Aug 2026, 02:00 pm

Mid‑Autumn Festival Concert | Joint Performance of Moonlit Melodies

📍Holy Trinity Cathedral

This performance is jointly presented by the Chinese Orchestra and Baiyun Choir, and it is not a pure folk‑music recital. The mellow tones of traditional Chinese instruments blend with resonant vocal harmonies. The poetic charm of folk music meets the grandeur of choral singing here. Conveying emotions through music, let us immerse ourselves in an auditory feast for the Mid‑Autumn Festival. Within the serene ambience of the cathedral, come and listen to the sounds of the full moon. Pieces Performed by the Chinese Orchestra 1. Spring Festival Overture 2. The Protagonist 3. Overture to Little Knife Society + Cloud Palace Music 2:00 p.m., August 29 📍Holy Trinity Cathedral

27 Sept 2026, 06:00 pm

Warm Spring Days, Shared Moment Across the Horizon – New Zealand Chinese Orchestra Music Salon

Remuera Library, 429 remuera road

The New Zealand Chinese Orchestra presents a new session of the Remuera Library Music Salon. Enjoy timeless Chinese folk music and familiar classic melodies from China and abroad. Immerse yourself in the library surrounded by books, bridging distant lands and soothing the homesickness of those living overseas. Admission is free. Come and join this spring musical rendezvous.

7 Jun 2026, 02:00 pm

Chinese Style Music Salon

Remuera library

An elegant room, a strain of traditional music. Let folk melodies quiet the hustle and bustle of daily life. No formal stage here, just like-minded friends sitting closely together. Amid the tunes of strings, discover the romance of Chinese style. We sincerely invite all lovers of traditional culture and folk music to join us for a soothing journey of traditional Chinese music.

23 Mar 2026, 02:00 pm

Chinese Traditional Folk Music Enters Libraries Series -- Remuera Library

Remuera Library, 429 remuera road

Libraries are spiritual sanctuaries where knowledge accumulates and minds are nurtured. Traditional Chinese folk music is an artistic treasure that has endured for thousands of years and carries the nation's cultural heritage. When the two come together, they spark unique oriental poetry and romance. To carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture and bring folk music closer to people's daily lives, the event "Chinese Folk Music Enters Libraries" has officially kicked off. We bring a variety of traditional musical instruments and classic folk music pieces into this world of books. The melodious erhu, lively guzheng, crisp pipa and serene bamboo flute take turns playing melodies, presenting the age-old charm of folk music to every reader. There are no bustling stages, only quiet book corridors. Art is no longer distant but within easy reach. Here, you can wander among books while enjoying elegant music, where the depth of words blends with the warmth of melodies. People of all ages gather to appreciate the art, which appeals to both refined and popular tastes. We hope more people will understand and fall in love with folk music, allowing this traditional art to thrive forever amid the fragrance of books. We sincerely invite all culture and music lovers to come to the library and embrace this wonderful rendezvous of books and folk music.

14 Feb 2026, 05:30 am

Co-creation with "Bai Meng Band" — Everyone is having a great time

wesound cafe 10 Lorne Street,Auckland

When soft traditional melodies meet powerful drumbeats, and time-honored folk music clashes with bold rock. Break the boundaries of genres and blend the rhythms of past and present. Combining classic charm with modern beats, every tune is a passionate fantasy uniquely rooted in the East. Folk music meets rock — an extraordinary auditory feast beyond your imagination awaits you!

Orchestra

Meet the Musicians

Discover the talented artists who bring our orchestra to life

Wang Qing Mei

Yangqin Performer

Tang Lu

Art Director and Conductor

Zhang Weiyi

Erhu and Gaohu Performer

Chen Duming

Flute Performer

Mona Wu

Erhu Performer

Mo Jianru

Guzheng Performer

Shen Liang

bass

Liang Siqi

Yangqin and Percussion Performer

Echo Zhang

Percussionist

Zhang Su Wen

Keyboardist and Percussionist

William Zhou

Erhu Performer

Yang Yue

Zhonghu Performer

Listen

Repertoire

Purple Bamboo Melody

"Purple Bamboo Melody" originates from folk tunes in the Wu region south of the Yangtze River. It later evolved into a classic tune of Shanghai opera and stands as one of the most representative works of Jiangnan Sizhu. The piece features a bright, lively, gentle and sweet melody, carrying the unique mild charm of the water towns.

Yungong Xunyin (Immortal Sound Above Cloud Palace)

As the opening theme of the 1986 TV series *Journey to the West*, *Cloud Palace Sprint* has become a household classic thanks to its lively rhythm and distinctive musical style. Now, we have reimagined its melody through folk music arrangements, giving this timeless piece a brand-new voice. Breaking away from conventional musical arrangements, this version is re-orchestrated with traditional Chinese instruments including the guzheng, bamboo flute and ethnic percussion. Delightful melodies flow through string and wind instruments, while powerful beats burst forth from gongs and drums. The music evokes the misty, ethereal aura of the Heavenly Palace as well as the unrestrained spirit of roaming amid the clouds. Classics never fade, and music keeps evolving. This folk music rendition is not only a tribute to fond childhood memories, but also a fresh showcase of the charm of traditional Chinese folk music. Listening to the piece, one feels as if wandering in the celestial cloud palace and reliving the unforgettable adventures of *Journey to the West*.

The Protagonist - Premium Version (Live)

This is the theme song of the TV drama *The Protagonist*. Our orchestra has two versions, and what we bring to you this time is the premium version. It is named the premium version because it features a spoken excerpt from Shaanxi Qinqiang Opera, which better embodies the charm of Shaanxi culture. Unfortunately, the audio and video quality is not ideal, and we appreciate your understanding. We will update it for you once we obtain the high-definition mainland version in the future. Lastly, we hope everyone can be the protagonist of their own life.

Protagonist

"Protagonist" serves as the theme song for the eponymous TV drama *Protagonist*. Drawing on the musical elements of Shaanxi Opera, this piece uses profound and weighty melodies to portray the turbulent life of a traditional opera artist. Performed by a Chinese orchestra with folk musical instruments, it depicts the lead character’s glory under the spotlight onstage and the hardships endured off‑stage, voicing the perseverance and the joys and sorrows of fate among art pursuers.

Tarakihi

Tārakihi, which means "cicada" in the Māori language, is a classic folk song in Māori culture that sings praises of nature and pays homage to the earth. The chirping of cicadas ringing through the forests on summer nights forms the most enchanting natural rhythm across the South Pacific islands, embodying the Māori people's reverence and affection for the land, nature and all living beings. Now, bridging distant lands and seas with traditional Chinese folk music, we present a new interpretation of this Māori ode to nature. The clear and melodious bamboo flute vividly imitates the crisp and graceful chirps of cicadas, just as summer cicadas flutter their wings amid the woods. The mellow guzheng unfolds the serene and profound ambiance of the forest, like evening breezes brushing through leaves and branches. The lingering tones of the erhu evoke the vastness and remoteness of the Māori homeland, while traditional Chinese percussion echoes the rhythms of nature and the distinctive beats of Māori traditions. This adaptation retains the original work's natural spirit and Māori rhythms, while infusing it with the unique subtlety, gentleness and artistic conception of Eastern folk music. There are no language barriers, only the resonance of nature; no cultural divides, but the harmonious blend of music. When the cicada songs of the South Pacific islands meet the traditional Chinese string and wind instruments, it becomes a heartfelt dialogue between Māori culture and Chinese heritage, as well as a shared echo of humanity living in harmony with nature. Come and listen to Tārakihi. Amid the melodies of traditional Chinese instruments and the simulated chirps of cicadas, let us embark on a transcultural journey connected by nature across mountains and oceans.