First performance of the New Silk Road Explorers, named Harmonic Strings, was held in the Concert Hall of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, May 2, 2017.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China's leading dulcimer musician, Liu Yuening, a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, has gathered a star ensemble for a creative Sino-American musical exchange program, Understanding China Through Mucic- Sino-American Cultural Tour of New Silk Road Explorers.

Hosted by the Central Conservatory of Music and supported by the Center for the Exchange and Experience of Chinese and Foreign Music Cultures & Music Confucius Institute, the project is running from May 2 to Oct 22. The group Liu Yuening has put together is comprised of Chinese and American musicians. US jazz pianist Dennis Friesen-Carper, dulcimer player David Mahler, singer-songwriter Paul Friesen-Carper and multi-instrumentalist Randy Raine-Reusch are all featured.