Bio
Mindy Meng Wang is a versatile Chinese / Australian Composer and world leading contemporary Guzheng Performing Artist. Mindy’s work explores the fertile space between traditional and contemporary practices: Her cross-cultural life and professional experience create her unique style, which has been influenced by Chinese and Western music. She is a pioneer to bring the Guzheng (an ancient Chinese horizontal harp) into many western genres such as experimental, Jazz, western classical, Electronic and improvisation. Mindy is a strong force in the Australian music scene!
Vision
Mindy’s work is significantly redefining and reinvigorating musical traditions on the global stage. Her work promotes and advocates for a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry. Her long-term vision is to create a strong voice for young female composers and artists of Chinese heritage, and more importantly, create a deeper and reciprocal musical connection between Australia and China.
Education
Mindy was classically trained on Guzheng in China with leading masters since the age of seven and started giving solo performances at the age of ten. She has won many national and international awards throughout her teens, then she studied western composition and musicology in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in UK and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Music.
Awards
Won – Asian-Australian Leadership Award (Arts & Culture) 2023
Won – Sidney Myer Creative Fellow 2022-2024
Won – Artist in Residence – Melbourne Recital Centre 2022-2023
Won – Music Victoria: Best Musician 2021
Won – 40 under 40: Most Influential Asian Australian 2021
Nominated – Melbourne Prize for Music 2022
Nominated – Australian Women in Music Awards: Diversity in Music Award 2022
Nominated – Australian Art Music Awards: Work of the Year 2022
Nominated – Music Victoria Awards: Outstanding Woman in Music 2021
Nominated – Music Victoria Awards: Best Breakthrough Act 2021
Nominated – Music Victoria Awards: Best Group 2021
Grants and Commissions
Mindy has received over 10 governmental arts grants and festival commissions as the lead applicant. In these projects, with a combined value in excess of AUD 250,000,
2023-2024 – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – East Meets West Programming Lead
2022-2024 -Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship AUD 160,000
2022 – Southside Festival commission AUD 5,000
2021 – Australian council for the Arts, AUD 23,600– Biometric Mirror: T!m3 Trav3l
2021 – City of Melbourne annual Arts grant AUD 13,000– Biometric Mirror: T!m3 Trav3l
2021 – OzAsia arts project commission AUD 10,000
2020 – Australian council for the Arts — Resilience grant, AUD 2,000
2020 – Australian council for the Arts, AUD 9,150
2020 – City of Melbourne, AUD 4,000
2020 – Creative Victoria’s Sustaining Creative Workers initiative, AUD 5,000.
2019 – Shanghai international festival, artist commission AUD 20,000
2018 – Australian council for the Arts, AUD 21,290 -The Silk Road Project: I am the Silk Road Part two Metamorphosis
2017 – Australian council for the Arts, AUD 22,140 -The Silk Road Project: I am the Silk Road Part one Cocoon
2017 – Creative Victoria, AUD 2,950-The Silk Road Project: I am the Silk Road Part one Cocoon
Releases
Mindy started releasing music digitally in 2020 and her records have been received as a huge success. Her work is represented across all major outlets such as Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Across the platforms her songs have attracted more than a million listeners in the last 6 months.
2023 – Origin of You
2021 – Phoenix Rising
2021 – Nervous Energy 一 触即发
2020 – An Improvisation Through Time and Space 穿越时光的即兴
Performances (selection)
During the last 5 years Mindy has had over 100 appearances to a combined audience of over 1 Million people. Demand for her talent is ever increasing, which allows her to select performances in line with her strategic vision.
2021-2024
Abbotsford Convent – Mapping Melbourne Agak-Agak
APRA Music Award
Brunswick Music Festival: Collective project with Joelistics Film School and dancers
Brunswick Music Festival: Commissioned work with sound artist Daniel Jenastch
Collingwood Art Precinct Opening: Solo featured Artist
David Li Sound Gallery Opening performance: collaboration with Paul Grabowsky
Flash Forward Festival: commissioned as one of 40 artists to represent Victoria
Frankston Art Centre, premiere new work WHEN at Southside Festival
Hawthorn Arts Centre: Collaborative work with Melbourne Amplified Strings and Indian artist Sarita
Mapping Melbourne festival: Collaborative work with Chinese film makers and Australian musicians
Meadow Festival: Collaborative project with Tim Shiel
Melbourne Knowledge Week: Mindy and Sui Zhen band
MONA Hobart: Solo performance as a special guest musician
Monash Uni Jazz club: Jazz quartet with Paul Grabovsky Trio
Moon Lantern Festival
Mpavilion: Commissioned Duet project Mindy and Sui Zhen
NGV: Collaboration with first nation composer and soprano Debora Cheetham / Orchestra Victoria
Sydney Festival and Sizzle festive: With Ensemble Offspring and artist director Claire Edwards
Sydney Opera house, MotherTongue MotherLand. (rescheduled)
2020: TEDx Sydney, Mpavilion, AsiaTOPA x2, Australia Performing Arts market, Victoria Seniors Festival, Sydney Sacred Music Festival, On of One, Isoaid Festival
2019: NGV, Australian Open, MONA FOMA x3, Shanghai international festival: Melbourne Music Week, OzAsia Festival x2, Mapping Melbourne, PlayOn, Government House, Music and Cities, Victorian Multicultural Commission FedSqaure, Premier’s Gala Dinner, Brunswick Music Festival
2018: China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Malthouse, Melbourne Recital Centre, touring Regurgitator, MONA , Dark Mofo x2, TEDx Bund Shanghai, NGV, Music in Space (Alibaba) , OzAsia Festival
2012-2017: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide, Shanghai.
Until 2012: Gorillaz in London and festivals in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and France.