CCMC Personnel

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Dr. Mei Han, Director of the CCMC

Mei Han (Ph.D.): Professor of Music 

Mei Han is the founding director of MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture. She received her doctoral and master’s degrees in Ethnomusicology from the University of British Columbia and a master’s degree in Musicology from the National Arts Academy of China.

Dr. Han’s academic research fields include the music of China, East Asia, and cross-cultural music communication. Her publications includes journal articles, book chapter, and entries for The Groves Dictionary of Musical Instruments and The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. She has presented at numerous international conferences, and lectured at higher institutions globally.

Dr. Han is an internationally acclaimed concert artist on the zheng (Chinese long zither), She studied with legendary zheng masters and toured with the most prestigious music ensemble in China. Moving to the West, she has explored the zheng in many new genres, including new music, chamber music, free improvisation, electro-acoustic, and world music, and has created a body of contemporary works. She has toured to five continents and performed in prestigious venues, festivals in numerous countries, and released eight albums. She received two Juno nominations (Canadian Music Award). Her unique position as an international performer and scholar was recognized by Bruno Nettl (1930-2020) in The Study of Ethnomusicology: Thirty-Three Discussions (2015), the primary textbook for the discipline.

In 2016, Han created MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture, the first of this kind in North America. Han’s mission is to bridge cultures and create opportunities for educational and artistic exchange for MTSU students and faculties. She works with numerous music schools, art institutions, and educational organizations to create a network for cultural exchange and contribute to student success at MTSU.

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Zhang Jianhua, Visiting Scholar

visiting scholar at MTSU

MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture welcomes visiting scholar Zhang Jianhua, Associate Professor of the School of Music, Qufu Normal University, Shangdong Province, China.

Professor Zhang is a vocal instructor and graduate supervisor. She is a member of the Chinese Musicians’ Association, a member of the Chinese Opera Research Association, and a member of the Music Education Professional Committee of the Chinese Education Society. She won the First Prize in the 6th Provincial Teaching Competition. She has directed many operas, such as “Wildfire Spring Breeze Into the Ancient City” and “Canal Haruka.”

Professor Zhang specializes in historically informed performances of ancient Chinese poetry. Her performance was on China’s Central Television (CCTV). She published “New Sounds of Ancient Music” and “Sung Poetry from the Song Dynasty” and many academic papers. She is an Inheritor of Ancient Poetry in the National Art Foundation and has been committed to promoting and popularizing ancient sung poetry. She participated in the preparation of the (13th Five-Year Plan) National Key Publication Publishing Planning Project, “Essence of Chinese Ancient Poetry.”

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Samuel Brooke, Graduate Teaching Assistant

Graduate Teaching Assistant for MTSU Chinese Music Ensemble

Mr. Brooke is a Master’s of Music student at MTSU specializing in Percussion Performance. He studies with Professor Davila and Dr. Mueller and works under Dr. Han at the Center for Chinese Music. As a member of the Chinese Music Ensemble, Salsa Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Band, He has excelled in many and various Music Outlets. He is continuing his education after receiving his Bachelor’s from Kennesaw State University with a double major in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Mr. Brooke spends his free time with his wife and one-year-old son.