At the Royal Musical Association’s 61st Annual Conference in Southampton, Yajie Ye presented her paper “Convergence in Performance: Exploring Collaborative Dynamics within a Mixed Ensemble of Chinese Zheng and Classical Instruments.” Delivered as part of the RMA Composer–Performer Collaboration Study Group, the talk shared insights from her practice-based PhD research into cross-cultural ensemble work and creative collaboration.
Drawing on her experience as a conductor and researcher, Yajie explored how performers negotiate notation, gesture, rehearsal dialogue, and cultural expectations when working with the Chinese zheng alongside Western classical instruments. The paper highlighted collaboration not simply as coordination, but as a dynamic process of listening, adaptation, and shared authorship.
By situating this case study within wider debates on practice research and performer–composer relationships, Yajie’s talk offered a model for understanding how musical convergence can generate new artistic and methodological possibilities. The presentation also reflected her broader commitment to bridging scholarly inquiry with lived performance practice. Yajie’s contribution formed part of ongoing conversations within the RMA community about creativity, ethics, and collaboration in contemporary music-making.
