Meet Mingfu Han

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

Hi Mingfu, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started ICMA, my thinking was about solving a few gaps I kept noticing. First, musicians often grow the most when they connect—sharing ideas, rehearsing together, learning side by side. We need more platforms for that kind of exchange. Second, classical music still felt distant from many audiences, and I wanted to make it easier for people to discover and enjoy. And third, I realized that even when musicians created excellent work, their performances often didn’t reach beyond a small circle.
ICMA is my answer to these problems. We design programs that bring musicians together, pushing each other forward, where audiences can experience music up close, and where performances and projects gain visibility beyond a single concert hall. My thought process was simple: if we can create a community that learns together, shares together, and is seen together, then both the musicians and the art form itself will continue to move forward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a pianist by training—I earned my Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance. As a performer, I have always believed that music is more than sound; it is about connection and communication. On stage, my goal is not only to play the notes, but to create a dialogue with the audience.
That same philosophy led me to found ICMA. What sets me apart is that I extend this idea of dialogue beyond the concert hall. I am most proud that through ICMA we can connect musicians, give students direct access to high-quality education from masters, and allow audiences to experience top-level performances while also engaging with the larger conversations in the classical music world.
The road here has not been easy. As an international student and later a professional in the U.S., I faced cultural, financial, and logistical challenges. What helped me was persistence, guidance from my mentors, and the belief that when we create opportunities for others, we all grow together.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that being an artist is not just about individual achievement—it’s about building spaces where people inspire one another.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I recommend my friend travel to Sicily. Palermo is a vibrant city and full of contrasts. We can feel the centuries of history. We would eat street food together, but also sit down for a long seafood dinner. I would take them into the mountains, where there are small ancient towns that feel almost untouched by time. The pace is slower, but every stone and every street has its own story. Spending even one night in a small inn there reveals a different rhythm of life. We would finish the trip along the coast, in one of the seaside towns. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy fresh seafood, and perhaps savor local wine while listening to music in the evening. For me, the most exciting part of Sicily is not just the places, but the way life, culture, and history are intertwined. The island carries traces of so many civilizations—Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman—and you can still feel that blend in the architecture, the food, and even in the music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I would like to thank my team at ICMA. None of this could have happened without their dedication and trust in the vision. I would especially like to acknowledge my DMA advisor at the University of Kansas, Dr. Yi-Yang Chen, whose guidance and encouragement have shaped me both as a musician and a leader. And of course, my Vice President, Dr. Yaqi Wang—her partnership, hard work, and belief in ICMA have been essential. This is not a solo journey; it’s a shared achievement.

Website: https://articma.org

Instagram: icma_art

Facebook: International Classical Music Alliance