For both his musicianship and activities as a promoter of international cultural exchange with his native China, SUU associate professor of music Dr. Xun Sun has been named by MusicalAmerica.com as one of the top professionals of the year. This year, the website focused on “The Influencers” and selected 30 unique individuals for the honor from across the nation.
According to Susan Elliott, editor of MusicalAmerica.com, “The Influencers, [are] defined as a people who are making a difference in our business, either by virtue of their positions, their creativity, and/or their dedication.”
Sun was singled out for this year’s honor for utilizing his contacts on two continents to form cultural partnerships for members of the semi-professional Orchestra of Southern Utah and students from Southern Utah University’s Department of Music. In 2011, he took 11 members of the orchestra on a tour of China introducing audiences to works that have been commissioned by OSU. His association with the Hubei Opera and Dance Drama Theatre enabled SUU music and dance students to perform in an original collaborative work, “The Dream of Helen,” celebrating the legacy of Cedar City native Helen Foster Snow for her humanitarian efforts in China during the 1930s.
Adding her praise to Sun’s new recognition, Shauna Mendini, the dean of SUU’s College of Performing and Visual Arts, called Dr. Sun “the catalyst in advancing SUU’s and Cedar City’s partnership with China.”
“In ways unpredictable and often surprising, his efforts have created educational and cultural opportunities for SUU and members of the Orchestra of Southern Utah with transformational results,” Mendini said.
Born in the city of Taiyuan, China, Sun began his formal music training and violin studies at Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China at age 11. This training led him to successful graduate studies in the United States. Under the Evelyn Ryan Nelson Concertmaster Fellowship at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, he earned master’s degrees in instrumental conducting and violin performance. He holds a doctor’s degree in education from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. He serves as Director of Orchestral Activities at SUU, conducts SUU’s Symphony Orchestra and String Ensemble, and teaches conducting and violin. Sun continues to teach masterclasses in conducting in Hunan.
