BEING under lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic gave guzheng master Sara Heng a chance to regroup and relax even.
"It was frankly one of the happier moments I've had… the pace I've been on slowed down," recalls the 32-year-old Penang native in a cosy bakery in Petaling Jaya.
Soon after, she and her musician friends of the Guzheng Academy and Bu Dong Academy in PJ took to performing online.
"It was a series of shows on Facebook, where we each had a 30-minute slot. That was in March 2020, actually. And the response was good. Most of the online feedback stated that people seldom got the opportunity to watch a live Chinese instrumental showcase," she adds.
Those online soirees will be performed live tonight and tomorrow for fans and those curious to experience the strains of the guzheng.
Two evening shows at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre in PJ will feature Heng and Cloud Teo on the guzheng along with Ng Teck Hing (on guqin), Neil Chua and Ong Mayyi (ruan), Kenwy Ho (yangqin), Tee Jun Hui (erhu), Sim Teck Sing (pipa) and Leong Ching Chiang (sheng).
"This time, instead of going solo, I'm playing two guzheng duet pieces with Cloud Teo, who's a great guzheng musician and also my best mate in music. We're really looking forward to it!"
The petite charmer and mum of a toddler plays both the traditional and electric guzheng, which is akin to the western zither.
The graduate from Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music reveals that she actually wanted to study mass communication, but her parents felt it was better for her to pursue her real passion, that of music.
Heng's musical journey began when she was 12. She initially wanted to join her school's marching band, but the guzheng caught her imagination after much prodding from her brother.
She went on to study under Penang-based guzheng player and conductor Lai Ah Lai, who also became her Chinese orchestra coach in high school.
After graduation, she collaborated with other creative talents, including visual artist Haze Leong. Just last July, Heng performed with Sarawak sape maestro Alena Murang for the Rainforest World Music Festival. "That was good fun, what a great festival," she says.
The longstanding festival and Heng's musical aspirations are in tune as she too wants to bring new sounds to the traditional guzheng.
"In fact, not many people are familiar with the guzheng still," says Heng, the proud owner of more than 10 such instruments.
She adds: "Many think it's old, traditional. I want to show that it is not old-fashioned."
"It's not just for Chinese music but can meld well with western scores too. Its sound excites me.
"The electric guzheng produces many sounds that the traditional guzheng cannot. So when I play that, it's outside the box.
"It's inspiring for me. I think the guzheng can be innovative," she says with a smile.
Music by The Guzheng Academy & Bu Dong Academy
When: March 3 & 4 at 8pm, with a 3pm matinee on March 4
Where: Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tickets: RM98 & RM200
Visit www.dpac.com.my or call 03-4065 0001 for more details and tickets.