- Violinist & Music therapist: Mozhu
A committed and passionate violinist, Mozhu Yan holds a double Master's degree in music performance from the Juillard School and Rice University in the USA. As a certified sound healer, she holds private practice at the Metasound Healing Studio in China and has served around 200 people in 15 workshops using natural sound instruments.
Yan served as the music therapist and music instructor for 2 years at the “Time to Dance - China” – a dance-therapy program initiated by the Scottish Ballet from the UK in 2017 offers dance workshops for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Formerly, Yan held a teaching position at Rice University for non-music majors, and a teaching assistant position at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard School(Tianjin campus).
- Guest violist: Yiting Wang
Yiting Wang holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from East China Normal University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music. In the field of community engagement and participation, she has worked with the Open Academy team and gained valuable experience doing music workshops and improvisation sessions with people living with dementia, people experiencing homelessness, and primary school students.
- Guest Contributing Artist: Bonnie Wang
Bonnie Wang holds a degree in Visual Sociology from Goldsmiths. Her dissertation seeks to understand the impact of gentrification on animal spaces in cities. She is currently working on her DPhil from University of Oxford where she is studying how to co-produce healthy urban spaces with human and non-human animals. In her research, she is experimenting with movement as a methodology to understand the non-human world.
- Curator & Facilitator: Sheryn
Sheryn is an editor, writer, climber, and creative practitioner. She is also a Chevening Scholar supported by the FCDO. Sheryn has been dedicated to socially engaged art, placemaking, and well-being through interdisciplinary approaches, including curation, events, and publication, among other relational and social activities. She has been managing the communication and public engagement for the Care Pavilion, a curatorial project at the London Design Biennale 2023, where she co-edited Care Manifesto (published 2024). She has initiated a climbing community to explore disability justice, gender equality, care ethics, and mental well-being through rock climbing.
Sheryn is now a volunteer of UK Paraclimbing Collective. She is doing her placement at Epping Forest Heritage Trust exploring forest therapy, community engagement, and promoting accessibility and diversity in outdoor spaces and nature.
*A special guest may bring their hand-made instruments to the event!