Erhu player Zoe Li. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
You could say Zoe Li plays the violin, but not the violin as Stradivarius made it.
Li is a master of the erhu, the Chinese classical violin, and she's part of an ensemble of Chinese New Zealanders who've formed their own chamber group to play the classical music of their homeland.
The five-strong Eastern Echoes Ensemble will make its debut at St Andrews on The Terrace on Saturday 3 May.
The erhu has two strings, and is played upright on the performer's lap.
Erhu player Zoe Li. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Li brought her instrument into RNZ Concert to share its sound and promote her group's concert with Three to Seven host Bryan Crump.
As a child, she was entranced by the sight of the erhu when she went to a Chinese opera performance in her home city of Beijing.
It looked like "a giraffe", and she wanted to play that giraffe.
While Li took up the erhu in China, learning from one of the greats, Sun Huang, she completed her studies in New Zealand.
Moving to Aotearoa had long been a goal for Li - she loves the space and easy access to the countryside.
When not playing or teaching the erhu, Li enjoys sky and scuba diving.
