Zhongbei WU, Guzheng; Jessica GU, soprano

Professor Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu is a renowned musician of playing Guzheng (a traditional Chinese instrument), and has performed in various countries and remarkable venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, United Nations Headquarters, China National Television, and many more.  She is also a groundbreaking creator with her own contemporary compositions. Currently, she is a clinical professor of music at Alfred University, where she has been teaching Chinese music and the Guzheng courses since 2010, and is also director of its Chinese language and culture program.  Prior to coming to the US, she was an associate professor of music and the director of the Chinese orchestra in Hunan University of Technology and Business, China.

Jessica Gu, a Chinese American soprano from Alexandria, Virginia, began her formal music education at the Eastman School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance. At Eastman, she notably portrayed the titular role of Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice with the Eastman Opera Theater. She further honed her craft by completing a Master’s degree in Voice at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Throughout her journey, Jessica has taken on several prominent opera roles, including La Fée in Cendrillon with the Chicago Summer Opera, Nuria in Ainadamar at the Jacobs School of Music Opera and Ballet Theater, and Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Aquilon Music Festival. In addition to her operatic achievements, Jessica has showcased her vocal abilities as the soprano soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass and Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major. Jessica made her professional debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2023. She has earned numerous accolades, including Second Place Regional in the Water Cube Cup Overseas Young Adult Chinese Song Competition in 2013, where she performed at the Water Cube Center, an Honorable Mention in the National YoungArts Competition in 2016, and the Maryland Lyric Opera Prize in 2021. Her performance history includes singing at prestigious venues such as the David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center in 2018. Jessica also loves performing musical theater and Chinese folk music. She is a well-known performer in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, frequently appearing on stages across the region. In addition to her performances in the United States, she has also made a mark internationally. She recently performed for Kai Fang University in Shanghai, China, where she also taught a masterclass. She is fluent in Mandarin, further enriching her repertoire and outreach. Recently, she has performed at prestigious events such as the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., the US Asian Fest in Virginia, and as a soprano soloist at the National ACE AAPI Strong Conference 2024 in Santa Clara, California. She made her debut at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., performing with China's Wuliangye Company and sharing the stage with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra members. Jessica also performed at the Dulles Expo Center in January, showcasing her incredible versatility and expanding influence as an artist. Upcoming, Jessica will be seen on the stage of Strathmore in August 2025.

Join us for an immersive evening celebrating the elegance of tea culture and the universal language of music! In honor of International Tea Day (May 21) and the recent UNESCO inscription of traditional Chinese tea-making techniques and associated social practices on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Embassy Series warmly invite you to experience the ancient art and modern revival of tea. Begin your evening with an interactive tea tasting that spans centuries and provinces—from the earthy richness of Shaanxi’s Jingwei Fu tea, to the floral smoothness of Fujian’s oolong, to the trendy, beloved brews of HEYTEA, a modern favorite among young Chinese. Cultural activities and light Chinese-style refreshments will accompany this unique tasting experience.