China’s First Suona Ph.D. Is Ready for Her Solo

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Liu Wenwen wants to make the traditional instrument — renowned for its noisiness — cool again. Dressed in a cap and gown, Liu Wenwen was easy to lose in the crowd at this year’s Shanghai Conservatory of Music graduation ceremony. But the achievement that brought her on stage that morning was historic: The 34-year-old had just earned China’s first Ph.D. in the suona , a traditional folk instrument. Long associated with grassroots celebrations — weddings, funerals, and village gatherings — the suona has become a topic of academic interest in China in recent decades, as the country’s musicians look to integrate traditional instruments into orchestras and symphonies. Even so, it was only in the late 2010s that two of China’s most prestigious music institutions — the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music — established doctoral programs dedicated to the study of suona . In 2020, Liu became the first in the country to pass the ………………………………