Come zither: Beijing-trained Penang musician Sara Heng on a guzheng mission

'There is no reason to limit the guzheng (Chinese zither) to a classical or traditional setting. It can also be contemporary and edgy,' says guzheng player Sara Heng. Photo: Handout

Ever since she was a girl, Sara Heng Xi Ying, who plays the guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither), had always been interested in music. However, she could have easily chosen a very different musical path.

When she was in secondary school, Heng had originally wanted to join her school’s marching band. However, her brother asked her to reconsider, telling her that marching for long hours under the sun was very tiring.