What is an apt description of a suona performance? "Full of the rustic flavor of China's folk arts," one might argue. Liu Wenwen, in her 30s, has been playing suona, a traditional Chinese woodwind instrument, for nearly 30 years. She believes the unique sound of suona should be heard on international stages. In 2017, Liu performed Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, a masterpiece that represents excellence in suona performance, during a concert in Sydney, Australia. The audience was amazed by the loud, exotic sounds generated by Liu and the suona. In 2023, Liu became the first Chinese to receive a Ph.D. in suona music. In recent years, she has been dedicated to passing the art form of suona to future generations. In addition, she has injected new vitality into this art form, by blending it with jazz, symphonic and even rock 'n' roll music.
Liu was born into a family of suona performers who lived in east China's Shandong Province. Her father, Liu Baobin, is an inheritor of "small copper suona," a type of suona popular in southwestern regions of Shandong. Liu Hongmei, Liu Wenwen's mother, is an inheritor of Kaxi performance, in which a musician plays suona to imitate the singing in traditional operas.
Liu Wenwen began learning to play suona, alongside her parents, when she was 4. Blowing soap bubbles is a fun activity for most children. Not for Liu Wenwen; "I had to blow bubbles, consistently, from a full glass of water, to practice the skill of circular breathing. The skill is crucial for suona players," she says.
Liu Wenwen accompanied her parents as they traveled around China to perform. Backstage became her playground, and where she ate and slept. "Suona is a musical instrument that originated among the people. If a player grows up in an environment filled with folk arts, it will be easier for him/her to showcase the authentic charm of suona in performances," Liu Wenwen says. She listened to Chinese operas and folk music as a child. "I didn't understand those operas and music at that time. Now, I realize those operas helped with my suona performances a lot," she says.
During the first few years in primary school, Liu Wenwen was reluctant to play suona, especially when she had to perform in front of her classmates. At that time, she did not think playing suona was elegant for a girl; rather, she preferred dancing and playing the piano. But Liu Hongmei encouraged her to continue playing suona.
When she became a senior student, Liu Wenwen listened to a record of a suona performance by Liu Ying, China's top contemporary suona performer. Liu Wenwen was deeply touched by the masterful performance, which spurred her passion to learn and play suona.
In 2008, Liu Wenwen was admitted to Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SHCM), where she studied under Liu Ying, who was also a professor with the university. "During the first year, the weak points in my performing skills were apparent, and my legs trembled when I played suona. My teacher told me, 'You are not skilled yet, but all that runs in your blood will become your own music'," Liu Wenwen recalls. To improve her skills, she practiced at least eight hours a day.
Her efforts paid off. In 2011, she won the gold medal during an international Chinese-musical-instrument competition in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
Playing suona requires the performer to have perfect physical strength, especially the ability to control the muscles around the mouth. "We must practice constantly to maintain the strength of our muscles. Without strong muscles, the performer will not be able to perform a five-minute piece," Liu Wenwen says. Even though she is now busy performing, she still practices at least six hours every day.
"To teach people to play suona and pass down the performing skills are my family's dream," Liu Wenwen says. To realize that dream, in 2018, she chose to teach at her alma mater after she obtained her master's degree.
In 2020, she passed the difficult Ph.D. entrance exam of SHCM, and graduated with her Ph.D. three years later.
Wowing the World
"The suona performing skills passed from generation to generation in my family have given me confidence. My unremitting practice, during the past 20-plus years, has also helped build my confidence," Liu Wenwen explains.
In 2015, while Liu Wenwen was studying for her master's degree, she played suona on the recording of American composer and conductor Tan Dun's new work. Tan was amazed by her performance, and by her experiences.
Tan decided to produce a special version of Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, by integrating suona and orchestral music. After they finished production, in 2017, Tan and Liu Wenwen began their world tour. Before their performance with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Liu Wenwen was so nervous that she had stomach cramps. Nevertheless, she stood in the spotlight on the stage, and she imitated the singing of various types of birds with her suona. The vivid, thrilling performance prompted hearty applause from the audience. "At that moment, I believed the sound of suona, from China, wowed the world," Liu Wenwen recalls. After the performance, many international musicians asked her how she was able to produce such amazing music with such a small, simple instrument.
The performance in Sydney opened a new door for Liu Wenwen. She realized suona and orchestral music matched well, and she was impressed by how the performance captured the hearts of the audience. She began exploring other possibilities for suona, by combining it with various types of music. "By playing different kinds of music with suona, I want to prove suona can be both rustic and elegant," she says.
In 2019, the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Liu Wenwen performed Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix during a concert to celebrate the opening of St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, in St. Petersburg, Russia. The live-streamed performance drew 170,000 online viewers from around the world. After the show, Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor, discussed the sound production and performing skills of suona with Liu Wenwen. He also invited her to work with Russia's Mariinsky Orchestra. Liu Wenwen was excited. "It is my honor to promote China's music on the international stage," she said at the time.
Klaus Heymann, founder of Naxos Records (a leading classical-music label), was also amazed as he watched Liu Wenwen's performance in Russia. He said he didn't expect one could give a world-class performance with suona.
Naxos released Liu Wenwen's first international album in 2023. The album contains her suona concertos. "Integrating suona with jazz and symphony is an effort to tell China stories with a world language. This is the duty and mission of the new generation of Chinese folk-music inheritors," she says.
In January 2025, Liu Wenwen performed several classic works of traditional Chinese music in the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria. When she performed Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, she played for one minute — without breathing. That showcased her excellent skills, and the power of suona.
Cultivating Younger Inheritors
Liu Wenwen wants to usher suona onto a bigger stage, and to tell the story of China's suona to the world. As an inheritor of her family's tradition, and as a suona teacher with SHCM, she bears the responsibility of passing suona performing skills to the younger generations.
Liu Wenwen is happy to see more people are taking an interest in suona. Her students are proud to learn the instrument. "Many of them have learned with me for years, and they keep practicing after they leave school. A five-year-old student told me, 'I love suona. It's really cool to play it'," she says.
Suona also fascinates many international students. "Some in the audiences have asked to become my students after they have watched my performances. Some have come to learn suona, at SHCM, from the United States. Music has no boundaries. I am confident about the future of traditional Chinese music," Liu Wenwen says, with pride.
During the past five years, China's folk music has been promoted in ways never before imagined. Suona is even used in the background music of the video game, Black Myth: Wukong, and in the animation film, Ne Zha 2. Both the film and game have been big hits in recent years. Such innovative productions have reflected the strength of folk music, and also people's confidence in traditional culture in modern society.
Liu Wenwen plans to put more effort into getting more people involved in the inheritance of suona culture. "We should explore the root of traditional arts in Chinese culture, and we should present more classical national music to audiences," Liu Wenwen says. She hopes folk artists will create new suona works that tell China's wonderful stories, and she looks forward to more opportunities to share the charm of suona with global audiences.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly March 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
