Presented by Silk Road Music, “Breathing Across Cultures” reflects the group's ongoing commitment to building bridges through music. 

A special focus of this program is the artistry of Zhong Xi Wu, a fourth-generation suona musician whose practice is rooted in a living family tradition. After immigrating to Canada, he developed a deep passion for Scottish music and began studying the bagpipes. Though originating from different cultures, the suona and bagpipes share remarkably expressive qualities and longstanding roles in ceremony, celebration, and storytelling. Zhong Xi Wu weaves these traditions together, blending the vibrant energy of Chinese folk music with the rich sonorities of Scottish piping to create a compelling and unique cross-cultural soundscape.

Through original compositions, traditional melodies, and innovative arrangements, Silk Road Music demonstrates how music can transcend borders, fostering understanding and revealing the common threads that connect cultures across time and place.