Led by artistic director and composer Ma Jiuyue, Sounds of China features an outstanding ensemble of contemporary Chinese folk musicians that blends the ancient and the new by combining traditional music with modern arrangements.

The group incorporates traditional Chinese instruments—such as erhu (a two-stringed spike fiddle), liuqin (a four-stringed Chinese mandolin), xun (a globular, vessel flute), pipa (a plucked four-string lute), and guhzeng (a Chinese zither)—with Western orchestral instruments.

The Beijing-based ensemble, which has performed to critical acclaim across the United States, is recognized for cultivating appreciation and increasing understanding of traditional Chinese music and culture. The Penn State performance coincides with Chinese New Year, which marks the beginning of the year of the pig.