Sun Zhuo – one of the finest zheng (Chinese zither) performer, top graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, where she gained her BA and MA from, both was majoring in zheng performance. She is now continuing her PhD studies at School of Oriental and African Studies University of London. She is in high demand as a zheng player both in China and abroad, most recently working on new compositions and contemporary styles.  

Sun was born and brought up in Xi'an, the ancient walled capital of Imperial China. Started from the age of 6, taught by her mother Qu Yun, a well-known zheng master with deep understanding of the core and essence of the zheng. From there, and after winning a string of prizes and accolades and appearing on the cover of Music Life and Music Weekly, she embarked upon a distinguished career as a zither soloist.  

During her school years she has played extensively in her native China. Sun made her recital debut in Hong Kong in 1998; later she gave concerts in Beijing Concert Hall, Beijing Zhongshan Concert Hall, Xi’an Concert Hall, Concert Hall of Nanjing Art Academy, Changsha Tianhan Theater Concert Hall, and Macau Cultural Center Concert Hall. Cooperated with the China Youth Chinese Orchestra, Macau Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Orchestra Xi’an Conservatory, and Beijing Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 she won the Millennium Zither Competition held in Taiwan.   

Sun is one of a new generation of Chinese performers who are devoted to exploiting the rich musical possibilities offered by the zither, her own interpretation of Chinese zither music owes much to Qu Yun, her mother and celebrated exponents of the zither in her own right. Sun has also been immeasurably influenced by the province of Shaanxi in which she grew up. Her music reflects its timeless and hauntingly beautiful loess landscapes, and its unique history, culture and musical traditions. Sun is equally intent on exploring the vast range of interpretations of Chinese music, and has recently been working alongside some of China's finest contemporary composers including Chen Xiaoyong, Ye Xiaogang, Liang Lei and Tian Leilei. She has been performing many experimental Zheng music composed by them and cooperated with Ensembles such as Sheffield University Ensemble UK, Mitglieder des Ensemble Obligat Hamburg, Internationalen Ensemble Mordern Akademie Germany.

Based now in London, Sun has given solo concerts and performances playing with Silk String Quartet in a series of venues in the UK and across Europe.

Played on International Music Festivals such as the Edinburgh Music Festival 2006, 2007; the Womax Spain 2006; the Womad Britain 2007. Her solo performances recorded and broadcasted by the BBC3. Since 2007 she has been engaged with the projects like ‘The Long walk’ produced by the Art Council award winner More Music, ‘Monkey Journey to the West’ the stage musical directed by Chen Shizheng, composed by Damon Albarn and designed by Jamie Hewlett.

She has also been working as a studio musician, recorded music for the documentary ‘Ghost’ and ‘Wild China’ for BBC Bristol.

Sun has released a number of albums in which she interprets traditional Chinese zither music. They include Zheng Music and Masters and Famous Pieces (both produced by Central Conservatory Global Productions, 2001, 2003), Xiang Yun (Longyin Productions, Hong Kong, 2004), Magnificence (China Records 2004).  The Mother and the Daughter on the Zheng (China Records 2008)