A visiting Chinese musician will give a concert tonight at Valdosta State University.

Deng Haiqiong is a performer on the traditional Chinese instrument of the zheng (or gu-zheng). She was the winner of the Outstanding Performance Prize at the Chinese National Zheng Competition in Shanghai. She made her professional début in Beijing in 1997.

Since that time she has developed an international reputation as a zheng soloist and chamber musician with numerous performances throughout China, Japan, Singapore and the United States. She has performed in numerous works in music festivals and invited to give performance and lectures at various universities, museums, and national/regional conferences in the United States.

Haiqiong had her Carnegie Hall début recital in 2003. She has appeared as a soloist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and the Singapore City Orchestra.

Haiqiong received her Bachelor of music degree in zheng performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Master of Arts in Arts Administration and Ethnomusicology from Florida State University College of Music. She has taught at Florida State University, Tallahassee Community College and University of South Florida. She is currently the Director of the Chinese Music Ensemble at the Florida State University.

Deng Haiqiong’s concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today, Pound Hall Auditorium (Langdale School of Business/North Campus). Admission: Free and open to the public. She is also giving an interactive demonstration of zhengs and qins on 12:45-1:45 p.m. Tuesday, FA 150 (The Band Room) which is also free.

Haiqiong's visit is sponsored by VSU’s Department of Music as well as the Office of Equal Opportunities & Multicultural Affairs.