In a captivating showcase of talent, young oboist Pei Jiadi seized another opportunity to introduce the richness of Chinese music to an international audience during her master’s graduation concert at the Gordon K. and Harriet Greenfield Hall at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
At the event, Pei skillfully performed excerpts from the Chinese oboe concerto “Mountain and River.” Crafted by the renowned composer Du Mingxin in collaboration with Professor Du Yong from the Composition Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the piece masterfully blends traditional Chinese landscapes with the essence of modern music. It is a celebration of the beauty and poetic scenery found in China’s majestic mountains and rivers.
Pei’s commitment to promoting Chinese music globally was further demonstrated when, on October 5, the Return of the Phoenix ensemble, led by Pei and composed of five young female performers, made its debut at the 2023 OLYMP’ARTS in Greece. Their performance of the quintet version of “Mountain and River” at the opening ceremony at Zappeion Palace in Athens artfully depicted the captivating landscapes of China, earning unanimous commendation from the founders and chairman of the OLYMP’ARTS as the sole performance group representing China.
As the only Asian graduate student in the oboe program at the Manhattan School of Music, Pei expressed her aspirations for the New York concert, stating, “By playing ‘Mountain and River,’ I hope to convey more warmth and peace, allowing the faculty and students of the school to immerse themselves in the beauty of Chinese music and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.”
Pei, originally from Zhaoqing in South China’s Guangdong province, began her musical journey at the age of 5, studying piano with her father and picking up the oboe at 7. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she was admitted to the affiliated elementary school of the Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 8 and went on to win the junior oboe category at the seventh Mravinsky International Competition for Youth in Russia at the age of 12.
Her journey continued with full scholarships to the Preparatory Division of the Manhattan School of Music in 2011 and undergraduate studies at the Mannes School of Music in New York. In 2020, she secured a full scholarship for her master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where she served as the principal oboist of the school’s symphony orchestra.
Pei’s impressive list of mentors includes Professor Jin Jingchun, a distinguished oboe educator at the Central Conservatory of Music; Liang Wang, principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic; and Professor Sherry Sylar, a renowned oboe educator at the Manhattan School of Music. Professor Sylar praised Pei for skillfully navigating the technical aspects of “Mountain and River” while infusing the piece with emotional depth, expressing pride in Pei’s outstanding professional techniques and anticipating her success as a professional oboist.
Pei’s international performances include invitations to the Golden Night concert at Lincoln Center in New York in 2019, celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, as well as her participation in the 2022 Spring Festival concert at Lincoln Center, organized by the Chinese Consulate General in New York.
