Meet Hanxiu Zhang | Composer & Violinist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanxiu Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanxiu, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I grew up in China where I learnt to play the violin .When I was little, I used to stay an enormous amount of hours practicing violin and listening to classical music (composers like Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart). At that time I didn’t realize how important music would be to my life but one thing I knew was that I love music, and being able to take weekly lessons with the best teachers in town was a privilege that not many people had at the time. Thank to my young hardworking self, When I was 14, I was able to study music systemetically at one of the best music schools in China where I got to play in chamber music and small orchestra.

After years of training and performing in orchestras I realized that I was much more interested in creating new music for other people to play and use. My big passion was always orchestral music from movies such as Harry Potter, Braveheart, Dinosour etc, the connection between music and film holds a beautiful ambiguity that opens up a common space for people to share emotion, so during my undergrad and first master in violin performance, I took composing lessons with great professors in my school. As time passed, I decided that I wanted to be a film composer and help create this space. I had the honor to be admitted into the USC Thornton Screen Scoring Master’s Program where I’ve grown a lot with professional knowledge of the industry, solid musical and technical skills, and valuable connections.

Now I work in the best of both worlds as a freelance composer for film, tv, video games. I still love to playing violin and I record violin for Hollywood composers. Still a long road ahead, but I’m excited to see where it goes.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It never is a easy path. but overcoming big challenges will only help you deal with difficult situations in the future and help you grow. During the past twenty-six years in pursuing my musical career, I already get used to performe in an orchestra. I was very confident with my performance because I love hearing the clapping sounds from the audience. But being a composer and especially, a composer in Hollywood, was a huge challenge for me, because that means dealing with maintaining a legal status while in the US and also, as a non-native English speaker, communication was a challenge when I first got here. I felt extremely upset and didn’t know what to do at the time. Luckily, I met some good friends who were willing to help me improve my communication skill, writing skill.

The film industry is also a tough business. Unlike palying in an orchestra as a violinist where I had decent income and basically don’t need to worried about mt life, it’s a a freelance business, meaning one is always looking for the next gig, and there is no guarantee of when that will be. There’s no stability like my last job, and I’ve gone through some very challenging times, But fortunately I have the experience working in an orchestra where I can be a part of a team that play orchestral music so I’ve always been passionate about orchestral music. I have worked on a wide range of projects as a freelance composer and orchestrator.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever I get the chance, I love to go to the beach. Malibu is the number one place for me to hang out with friends. There are aplenty for outdoor enthusiasts, surfers, families, sun worshippers, and beach bunnies. as well as a bit of a sense of relief when I’m surrounded by nature. Going to the beach can be a great way to see fascinating wildlife. Haidilao in West Hollywood always hits the spot for me too. It serves traditional Chinese hot pot originating from SiChuan and offers fresh ingredients along with an extensive bar of condiments to create your own dipping sauce. It always reminds me of the days with my family and friendswhere we get together to chat and talk about life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost would definitely my family, especially my Mom. When I was very little. She’s the one who took to the violin lessons every week， took notes in every lesson and devoted a huge amount of time to practice with me. My family always give me the biggest support. They believe in me for who I am and no matter what I’ve been through, they always have my back.

Second, I would like to thank all the teachers I’ve met that inspired me to become one myself. They not only made me connect with music in such an inexplicable way but also helped me a lot on my journey of understanding myself.

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