Chen Mei-O (Taiwan)

Chen Mei-O, founder and artistic director of the Han Tang Yuefu Ensemble, is among the foremost masters in Nankuan, one of the most ancient forms of music in China that can be traced back to Quanzhou City in the Fujian province. A leading champion of the music, Chen made it possible for it to be heard in Europe for the first time in 1982. Over the years, she toured internationally with her troupe and Nankuan gained even wider attention. Chen is equally an innovator and has introduced new ideas to the art form. In 2009, collaborating with French music and vocal group Doulce Mémoire, Chen created and directed a classical dance drama, Mémoire des vents du sud, that premiered in Taipei to a rousing reception and will tour China and France in 2010. She also established the Han Tang Yuefu Arts Centre in 1994 and has served as artistic director since. In 1995, she completed a voiced archival project, recording 64 great pieces in The Complete Nankuan Instrumental Music, which was followed by a sequel. Her productions of CDs and stagings of musical theatre pieces have won many major awards. In 1997, Chen received the Global Chinese Culture and Art Award for Ethnic Music.

http://www.hantang.com.tw/