Jiaju Shen + Yuda Deng

Jiaju Shen (pipa) + Yuda Deng (guitar)

Jiaju Shen is an artist of extraordinary ability and a celebrated expert in traditional Chinese music instrument performance. She is the founder of FJ Music Fusion, a member of The China Association of Performing Arts, The Shanghai Performing Artists Workers Union, and The Shanghai Musician Association. Jiaju graduated from Shanghai Theater Academy and Pratt Institute. She won the the Gold Medal at the China Oriental Arts Star Competition in 2004 and she is the winner of the 2014 United States Miss Angel Model Contest, Best Runway Model, Best Talent, and Most Elegant Award. Jiaju has demonstrated her virtuosity at various important venues, performing at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2008, Shanghai Expo Closing Ceremony in 2010, United Nations, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Rubin Museum of Art, and Summer Stage among many others. She is an innovator and pioneer in Pipa revitalization and has greatly contributed to the performing arts community in the U.S. Her story was filmed by IVIDEA Cultural Production Company as part of a new documentary series ““Fly Across America in 2014.

Yuda Deng is a second-year Master’s degree candidate at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of David Leisner. He has been invited to perform in many notable venues including China’s National Grand Theater as well as China’s Pearl River Delta.