Enthusiastic Response to Pei Min’s ‘Pipa Travel (III): Elegant String Gathering’ Concert

(Miri, 25th) — Hosted by Miri Pei Min Secondary School Chinese Orchestra, the 2026 ‘Pipa Travel (III): Elegant String Gathering’ Concert was held last night at the Lin Muzeng & Huang Xiuying Grand Auditorium of Pei Min’s new Administrative and Teaching Building, attracting numerous Chinese music enthusiasts, students and public attendees. The atmosphere at the event was lively and enthusiastic.

This concert was conducted by Chinese Orchestra conductor Tan Wan Xiang, with the special invitation of Malaysia’s renowned pipa virtuoso Shen Dexin as guest performer, delivering a high-caliber feast of Chinese music for the audience.

Tan Wan Xiang expressed that the special invitation of Shen Dexin this time was to elevate students’ performance standards and further promote the development of local Chinese music arts.

Shen Dexin is currently coach of the Muar Kaige Chinese Orchestra, Kuala Lumpur Confucian Chinese Orchestra, and Seremban Zhenhua Secondary Chinese Orchestra, and pipa instructor at Malacca Yu Min Primary School. Born in Muar, Johor, he started learning pipa at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Su Qiming and Lin Yonghong, and was an active member of the Chinese orchestra during his years at Muar Chung Hwa High School, serving as principal, assistant conductor and soloist of the plucked string section.

In 2004, he obtained Grade 8 in the Overseas Graded Examinations of China’s Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), and in 2006 was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music to major in pipa performance under the renowned pipa performer and educator Professor Zhang Qiang, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in pipa performance.

After returning to Malaysia, Shen Dexin has been actively engaged in Chinese music education and promotion, frequently serving as tutor at national Chinese music training camps, and teaching and performing across Johor, Malacca, and Kuala Lumpur. In 2018, he successfully held a series of ‘Pipa Travel’ solo concerts in Malaysia, continuously promoting the development of local pipa art; in 2023, he planned and organized the Malacca Pipa Arts Festival ‘Prosperity in Bloom’.

In addition, he has represented Malaysia to perform and exchange in countries/regions such as South Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Australia in solo, ensemble and international cultural exchange performances, accumulating rich stage experience and deep artistic accomplishments.

This concert also featured the Pinxiang Pipa Ensemble. Formed in 2023 by a group of young people passionate about the art of the pipa, and guided by Shen Dexin, they have continually grown, with a mission to promote pipa art and Chinese music culture. The ensemble has participated in performances such as ‘Strings in Oil Town’ in Miri, ‘Ambush on All Sides’ in Kedah, and ‘Musical Notes on Little Fingertips’ in Malacca, and has won several awards, including the Honorary Gold Award (Third Place) at the 2024 Huazong International Instrumental Competition and the 2025 Malaysia He Le International Arts Festival, gradually becoming one of the most prominent youth pipa groups in Malaysia.

The evening program was rich and diverse, including ‘Send Me a Rose’, ‘Rushing to the Flower Festival’, ‘Sentiment of Wei River’, ‘Into the Dream of Jiangnan’, ‘Sword Dance’, ‘Flying Apsaras on the Silk Road’, ‘Shandan Flowers Caprice’, and ‘Sisters of the Grasslands’, bringing the audience a feast of Chinese music arts blending tradition and modernity.