Min Xiao-Fen

A pioneering voice in experimental and intercultural music, Min Xiao-Fen is internationally celebrated for redefining the expressive possibilities of the pipa through extended techniques, improvisation, and vocal expression. Like much of her work, Boundless reflects themes of migration, memory, and cultural history, forging emotional connections between ancient Chinese traditions and modern global narratives.

Min’s composition “Xi Xi, Cuo Cuo (Wash and Rub)” draws inspiration from the largely overlooked history of Chinese immigrants in the Mississippi Delta. “They lived there for over a century,” Min explains. “In the segregated South, they ran grocery stores and laundries that served both Black and white communities. My music reflects how they quietly bridged a divided world. Through my music, that bridge continues.”