- [Chris] Xiao Dong Wei, composer, musician, and master of the erhu, the Chinese two-stringed violin.

Detroit has been her home for over two decades, during which time she has become a fixture of the city's music scene.

- I started study erhu when I was five-years-old, and when I was 11, I got into the Central Conservatory of Music, the affiliated middle school in Beijing.

So I moved to Beijing when I was 11-years-old, and my major study was the erhu, the two-string Chinese violin, and the minor piano.

So in that same campus I stayed for 10 years.

And after that, I start working for the motion picture orchestra in Beijing.

And another four years later I moved to the US.

("Where East Meets West") - What originally brought you to Detroit?

- When I first come to the US, I actually landed in Hawaii, and then I went to Los Angeles, spent some times there, and Las Vegas.

And at that time I had the choice to stay in either in LA or Detroit, and I choose Detroit because Detroit is such a powerhouse for music, global music.

("Where East Meets West") Music wise, Detroit is cool with the techno, the Motown.

There's so many legends from here.

When I came here, I feel like home and I feel I'm always very warmly welcomed.

I wasn't even sure people going to like the erhu.

I have no idea.

So I just start playing small clubs and coffee houses, and before I know it people start calling me.

("Where East Meets West") And really I found, we always say music is a language, global language, international, no boundaries.

We always say that, but when I really feel that, this also goes into my later exploring different music, what I go is whatever sounds good to my ear.

I don't think about so much of this kind or that kind.

- [Chris] In addition to playing traditional erhu music, Xiao Dong Wei plays an eclectic range of alternative chamber music, classical and jazz, and also plays electrified rock music with her band Madame XD.

(singing in foreign language) - My classical route, I would never give up.

That's always where I came from.

But even when I slip very little, I'm attracted to different kind of music.

And then I got exposed to Beatles and then Led Zeppelin, that's one of my all-time favorite.

And then Bjork are so different, just really opened my eyes.

I play so many instruments, because you have an open mind.

I really don't have, okay, I can't do this, I can't do this.

And I think from my dad, because he's multi-instrumentalist.

So whenever there's instrument, I just can't help it, I just have to try it, you know.

Instruments are like people, different kind of beauty, you got to appreciate it.

Everyone have their special sound that the other one doesn't have.

When I came here, first of all, I was studying, taking a lesson at Wednesday and I saw a advertisement said, "Female musician wanted, a guitar player, singer, or whatever."

I said, whatever, that's me.

So I answered that, and then we started playing bluegrass and we just jammed out and then started going to rock and roll, all that stuff.

And this year, this April 2026, I premiered my first orchestra piece.

I wrote for erhu (indistinct).

For the first time in my life, writing something for the orchestra.

("Hometown Reflections") The Michigan Philharmonica played my piece, and the music director, Nan Washburn.

When they asked me play actually a concert, play other work.

And then I said, "Ooh, I have a piece."

I was working on a piece on my computer.

I put all the brass, the brass session, the violin session.

Oh, that sounds pretty good.

So when they called me for other concert, I said, "I can ask her."

So I asked her, she said, "Yes."

("Hometown Reflections") I'm really happy with it, and I hope to take that piece actually to someplace else besides Detroit because that's a celebration piece and the third movement is really Chinese festival, very festive.

So I hope to play someplace else with that piece.

And since I have so much fun write that piece, I love it so much, so I'm going to continue to write for symphonies.

("Hometown Reflections") - Of course, I want to talk to you about Concert of Colors and you've played the Concert of Colors for many years and you have a great relationship with that festival.

(bright instrumental music) - Like you said, I play in the Concert of Colors so many years, but this year Ishmael passed away.

It's very, very sad.

But we had a very nice celebration of Ishmael in Detroit.

Was well attended, people really miss him.

His spirit will continue to live with the legacy he left behind, and people enjoy this festival.

And now the neighborhood program that Charles Ezra Ferrell is director of, people love it.

It just fill the community, the artists really pour their heart out.

So I'm playing September 26th at Detroit Shipping Company as part of this neighborhood program.

I have a very great pipa player originally from China, now live in North Carolina.

Her name is Min Xiao-Fen.

We're going to play some really traditional Chinese music and then we're going to improvise some.

Then I'm going to rock out with my rock band, Madame XD, with the same stage.

We'll share same stage with taco drum, Japanese drum.

So I'm arranging a piece.

We'll be collaborating.

And I'll have also premiere my new work at this concert.

("Where East Meets West") I just keep going and try new stuff.

My classical continue.

I'm going to do that.

I'm going to really get into jazz and, oh yeah, I do want to, this is it.

I do want to do some hip hop stuff, and I'm glad people enjoy it.

I'm really, really happy.

Because for all my life, I enjoy so much.

I'm just in my little world doing this, and later when I share, I find out, oh, I can make other people happy.

I'm very happy.

I feel blessed.

("Where East Meets West")