RealTracks Artist Bio: Qiu Xia He

Qiu Xia He is a pipa player, teacher, composer and producer. Born in Baoji Shaanxi, Republic of China, she continues her musical activities both in China and in Canada. Many of her projects are cross-cultural with a focus on working against stereotypes about Chinese music.

She graduated from the Xian Academy of Music, and afterwards stayed as a teacher for the Academy. In 1989 she toured Canada with the Shaanxi Music and Dance Troupe, and after attending the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, she decided to stay in Canada. She became a member of the Silk Road Music ensemble, with whom she earned a Juno nomination, two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations and two West Coast Music Awards. Over the years they toured Canada, the US, and France; performing at major festivals such as Harbourfront, The Vancouver Folk Music Festival and the Ottawa Folk Festival. She has also toured and performed in the Czech Republic with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, and has also performed and recorded compositions by Mark Armanini, including a performance with the Glacier Symphony Orchestra in Montana.

Qiu Xia co-founded the Juno-nominated quartet, Asza, with whom she has performed with Randy Raine Reusch, Pepe Danza, Celso Machado, and oud player Andre Thibault. As a member of Asza, she toured South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and North America. She also co-founded JouTou, a multicultural music ensemble with a focus on French music from around the world.

Qiu Xia’s other work includes performing with the Canadian folk group Ptarmigan, the Vancouver and Victoria Symphonies and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, she was featured on a BBC live concert broadcast in the U.K. She formed a duo Celso Machado and she was a member of the multicultural Latin ensemble Southern Cross. She was active in the Vancouver World Music Collective, who were the subject of a CBC Television Documentary.

You can find additional details about Qiu Xia He at: https://silkroadmusic.ca/who-is-silk-road-music/qiu-xia-he