NASHVILLE, TN - The concourse of Bridgestone Arena isn’t usually a place where you hear the soft shimmer of the ruan or the bright voice of the sheng, but last week (12/9/2025) Middle Tennessee State University’s Chinese Music Ensemble turned the space into something magical. As thousands of Nashville Predators fans streamed in for Asian Pacific Islander music heritage night, the ensemble stepped into the spotlight and filled the arena with the sound of traditional Chinese instruments.

Led by Mei Han, director of MTSU’s Center for Chinese Music and Culture, the nine‑member group performed a four‑piece set that included “Dry Thunders,” “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon,” “Jujube Harvesting,” and “Flowers Blooming and the Full Moon.” Their music drifted through the concourse, drawing curious visitors who paused to listen—many hearing these instruments for the very first time. The ensemble opened the evening’s cultural lineup, which featured performers from across the Asian Pacific region.

For Han, the invitation to perform at Bridgestone marked a milestone she won’t soon forget. She said the ensemble has played in symphonies, libraries, and community venues, but never before for a stadium crowd. Reaching people outside the traditional arts community, she said, was an important moment not only for the ensemble but for MTSU as a whole.

The group that night included students from a mix of majors, two alumni who volunteer their time, and visiting scholar Jingyi Zhan, who joined the ensemble during her residency. Preparing for the performance meant rewriting arrangements to fit both the smaller stage and the varied experience levels of the musicians. Han said that every semester brings a new blend of players, and with it, new arrangements. What never changes is the expectation that students learn to listen deeply and respond to one another.

Junior music major Henry Wright said performing at Bridgestone reshaped how he thinks about ensemble work. In Western classical settings, he explained, someone is always leading. Here, the leadership comes from listening. He said the experience has strengthened his confidence more than any other performance opportunity.

Now celebrating its 10th year, MTSU’s Center for Chinese Music and Culture remains the only university‑based center of its kind in the United States. School of Music Director Jennifer Snodgrass said the ensemble offers students something transformative—a chance to step into a new world, discover unfamiliar sounds, and grow together without hierarchy or intimidation.