Belfast - The highly anticipated concert “Harmony Beyond Borders: Cross-Cultural Fusion of Guzheng and Irish Traditional Music” was grandly held at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre on August 9th. Featuring a solo performance by UK-based guzheng artist Wei Deng, the event wove together tradition and innovation in a musical dialogue, presenting the audience with an audio-visual feast that bridged Eastern and Western cultures. Distinguished guests in attendance included Li Nan from the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast, Wang Weicheng MBE, Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Northern Ireland, Triona White Hamilton from the National Museums Northern Ireland, Owen McFadden, producer of ‘The Signal’, BBC Ulster Radio, and Mukesh Sharma, OBE DL. Representatives and musicians from Indian, Irish, and Iranian communities also gathered to witness this milestone of cultural exchange.

Wei Deng performs on the guzheng at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, blending Chinese and Irish musical traditions. (Photo/Wei Deng)

Opening Remarks: Building Bridges Through Culture

At 3:00 PM, Lili Wu, Manager of the Chinese Welfare Association NI, took the stage to deliver a warm welcome address. “This concert is more than a performance; it is a bridge for cultural exchange,” she stated. “Through the guzheng, Wei Deng blends traditional Chinese music with Irish culture, showcasing music’s charm as a ‘universal language.’” She then invited Wei Deng to the stage, who was met with thunderous applause. In her opening remarks, Wei Deng expressed gratitude to the guests and audience, with special thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The National Lottery, and Vijayshobha Ltd for their support.

Audience members are fully immersed in Wei Deng’s guzheng performance, captivated by the cross-cultural melodies. (Photo/Wei Deng)

Highlights of the Performance: A Dialogue Between Tradition and Innovation

Wei Deng opened the concert with The Connaughtman’s Rambles by Irish composer Jeremy. Skillfully using the guzheng’s “pressed tone” technique, she mimicked the “fa” note in Irish music by bending the strings, bringing the 6/8-time double jig to vivid life and capturing the freedom and wanderlust of the nomadic spirit. She followed with The Blarney Pilgrim in G major, using glissando techniques to infuse the traditional tune with new flavor while recounting the Irish cultural legend of “kissing the Blarney Stone.”

In the fusion segment, Wei Deng paired the Chinese classic Butterfly Lovers with the Irish slip jig The Butterfly. She used the guzheng’s delicate timbre to interpret the romance of “transforming into butterflies,” while integrating the 9/8-time Irish dance rhythm to create a musical dialogue between Eastern and Western love stories. She also extended sincere thanks to the He Zhanhao Art Studio for its support. Additionally, she presented a fusion of High Mountains and Flowing Water and the Irish reel The Green Mountain, drawing on the Chinese “bosom friend” legend and memories of Northern Ireland’s Glenariff Forest Park to convey a deep appreciation for friendship and nature.

Li Nan from the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast commented, “The performance was a great success. We hope to host a cultural exchange performance during the 2026 National Day celebrations.” Owen McFadden shared, “This is my first time seeing this instrument, and its sound is absolutely beautiful.” A representative from the Indian community reflected, “Music allows people from different cultural backgrounds to find common ground—this is exactly what ‘Harmony Beyond Borders’ means.”

Group photo of distinguished guests attending the concert, with Li Nan from the Chinese Consulate General second from left. (Photo/Wei Deng)

In her closing remarks, Wei Deng emphasized the concert’s deeper mission: inheriting traditional music, strengthening cultural identity, and promoting harmonious coexistence. “The guzheng is not just an instrument; it is a cultural bond,” she said. “In the future, I will continue to use music as a bridge to connect global cultures, keeping traditions alive through innovation.” This concert was not only an artistic feast but also a milestone in cross-cultural exchange. As Wei Deng put it, “The journey of music is endless, and when cultures meet, they bring more harmony and possibilities to the world.”

Lili Wu, host and Manager of the Chinese Welfare Association NI, guzheng artist Wei Deng, and Sanjay Ghosh, manager of Vijayshobha Arts, pose for a group photo. (Photo/Wei Deng)