[Exclusive Interview] Linlin Qian: Let Music Become a Bridge Between Cultures
— Behind the Scenes of Nathan Wang’s Chinese Music Journey
LAPost / Los Angeles (October 7, 2025) — The third installment of the East Meets West concert series, Nathan Wang’s Chinese Music Journey, co-presented by the Sino US Performing Arts Organization and the Bowers Museum, recently concluded with resounding success at the Norma Kershaw Auditorium in Orange County.
This concert was widely regarded as one of the most professionally executed and artistically impressive performances in the Southern California Chinese community in recent years. It received overwhelming praise from audiences and sparked an ongoing wave of discussion and admiration within the cultural scene. Behind this remarkable success stood producer Linlin Qian (Alina ) — the creative force and executive producer who brought the project to life.
Alina Qian in an exclusive interview with LAPost. Photo by: Tanxuan Shi/LAPost)
A graduate of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music, majoring in Chinese vocal performance, Qian began her career at China National Radio (now part of the China Media Group), where she served as Producer, Senior Editor, and Deputy Director of the Arts Department. Over a 25-year career in broadcasting and performing arts production, she spearheaded numerous national cultural programs, including The Chinese Folk Song Chart, Mid-Autumn Poetry Gala, The Great Nation of Learning, and Across the Strait Awards, among many others. She also served as the chief editor of the book The Great Nation of Learning and published more than ten academic papers in major industry journals.
Her productions have earned multiple national and international awards, such as the National Taiwan Broadcasting Award, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation Journalism Award, and the Ministry of Propaganda’s Excellence Award for Anti-SARS Reporting, among others. Qian has long been recognized as one of China’s most accomplished cultural producers and media scholars.
Since 2023, Qian has served as Artistic Director of the Sino US Performing Arts Organization, continuing to bridge artistic expression between East and West. She has also written a series of cultural features and artist interviews for Sino US Magazine, including profiles of composer Nathan Wang and guzheng virtuoso Bei Bei.
As a producer with deep cross-cultural experience, Qian views music not just as art but as storytelling:
“A concert should not merely showcase sound — it should narrate history, evoke emotion, and invite reflection. Every piece of music opens a doorway to another era and culture.”
Nathan Wang’s Chinese Music Journey featured selections from major Chinese historical films and games — including The Myth, Hero, Terracotta Warrior, The Last Emperor, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Honor of Kings. Through a seamless fusion of music, visuals, and lighting, the concert created a poetic experience — both epic and intimate.
Qian intentionally aligned the musical narrative with the Bowers Museum’s concurrent exhibition, World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century, allowing ancient history and modern sound to resonate within the same space.
“True professionalism isn’t about how much you can add — it’s about how well you balance,” Qian said. “Our team rehearsed repeatedly with lighting, visuals, and sound engineers, striving for precision in every breath of rhythm. A good production should immerse the audience in art, not distract them with technique.”
When the encore When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright began, the audience softly joined in, many moved to tears. In that moment, music transcended language and geography — it became pure human connection.
For Qian, the role of a producer goes beyond managing logistics; it is about creating spaces for resonance.
“Music is the most natural language of culture,” she said. “Through every East Meets West stage, I hope to bring Chinese music into a contemporary context — and show the world that Eastern culture is both open and evolving.”
Looking ahead, Qian shared that the Sino US Performing Arts Organization plans to collaborate with more cultural institutions to develop new projects blending dance, film, and AI-based art — continuing to explore cross-genre innovation.
On that autumn evening in Southern California, Nathan Wang’s Chinese Music Journey left audiences with melodies that lingered and emotions that transcended words. Behind the curtain, Alina Qian exemplified a rare combination of artistic vision, cultural depth, and professional excellence.
From her early years in China’s national broadcasting system to today’s American cultural stage, Qian’s career bridges both medium and meaning. Her productions consistently balance artistry and social value, earning both critical acclaim and heartfelt audience connection. She represents a new generation of cultural producers — evolving from “broadcasters” into “cultural architects.”
For Qian, the purpose of music is clear:
“A concert is not only for people to hear beauty — it is for them to see culture moving, connecting, and continuing.”
(By: Richard Ren / LAPost)
