CCMC Personnel

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.

---

Elizabeth Johnson , Graduate Teaching Assistant

Elizabeth Johnson is a freelance harpist, and a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University, pursuing her Masters in Music degree under the tutelage of Dr. Sarah Crocker with a specialization in Harp performance. She is also the current Graduate Teaching Assistant for the MTSU Chinese Music Ensemble under Dr. Mei Han. Her passion for musical storytelling has shaped her musical and academic pursuits, which enables her to create captivating programs that enthrall her audiences. As an orchestral musician, she has served as principal harpist at Oberlin, including during major orchestral tours. She is a recent graduate of Oberlin Conservatory with a B.M in Harp Performance, and her former teachers include Diane Evans, Yolanda Kondonassis and Joan Raeburn Holland. Her recent awards include Finalist for the Oberlin Conservatory Senior Concerto Competition. Looking forward, Elizabeth aims to intertwine her passion for teaching with her love of musical storytelling.