Cello

Joseph Kuipers is an international cello virtuoso based in Texas, a protégé of legendary cellist Steven Isserlis, and a collaborator of Yo‑Yo Ma. Performing on a ca. 1710 Francesco Gobetti cello—a nearly 300‑year‑old Venetian masterpiece famed for its dark, singing tone—he brings both historic depth and modern innovation to Woven Voices. The instrument’s extraordinary resonance, warmth, and expressive power create a sound that seems to float effortlessly through the hall, carrying centuries of music‑making into the present moment.

Guzheng

Wan Chun Shui is an internationally acclaimed guzheng legend from Taiwan and a national‑treasure‑level master of the instrument. Born into the renowned Dunhuang Shui family, she comes from the lineage that defined the modern 21‑string guzheng, reshaping how the instrument is built and played in the contemporary era. As the founder and leader of the pioneering Dunhuang Zheng Ensemble—the first ensemble of its kind in a field once dominated by solo performances—she transformed the guzheng from a solo instrument into a powerful, modern ensemble voice on the world stage.

For Woven Voices, she will perform on a bespoke, million‑dollar guzheng brought specially from Taiwan for this concert.

Guzheng

Uko Adams is one of the most influential guzheng artists in the United States and a direct disciple of Taiwan’s legendary master Wan Chun Shui. For Woven Voices, she pioneers breakthrough techniques that make this reimagining of Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon score possible on guzheng for the very first time.

As Texas’ premier guzheng authority, Adams is devoted to bringing the voice of this 2,500‑year‑old instrument to modern audiences. She is also the exclusive U.S. representative for Dunhuang Yun, the elite line of Shanghai Dunhuang guzhengs, and performs tonight on a bespoke flagship instrument from the very brand she represents—unleashing its full power for Dallas audiences.