Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts Presents: Psychopomp Ensemble

Artist(s)

Psychopomp Ensemble: https://www.psychopompensemble.com/

In Greek mythology, a Psychopomp is a conductor of souls.
Co-founded by pianists Chi-Wei Lo and Xiaopei Xu, Psychopomp Ensemble weaves together a diverse tapestry of traditional serious music, third stream, jazz, pop, blues, minimalist, and contemporary, creating an auditory experience that defies categorization.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer describes them as offering "new directions in pianism” and exploring the “far reaches of musical possibilities."

Recently, Psychopomp Ensemble appeared on The Kamerman Piano Series at the University of West Florida and at Puddingstone Events in Rhode Island. In 2021, Psychopomp Ensemble participated in interdisciplinary events in Los Angeles, which garnered coverage from more than a dozen media outlets, including The LA Times, NBC News, and others.

Xiaopei Xu, pianist:

Praised by The Boston Globe as “a world-class pianist,” Xiaopei Xu has captivated audiences worldwide with performances described as “spellbinding and expressive” (Boston Musical Intelligencer). She made her Boston Symphony Hall concerto debut with Boston Pops in 2018 and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across North America, Europe, and Asia. Recent highlights include appearances presented by the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Harvard Musical Association, among others, and has been featured in The Boston Globe, Boston Musical Intelligencer, and in major Chinese publications.
Xu is a laureate of several international competitions, and featured in prominent festivals. Xu holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, a Master of Music from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory. She is the co-founder of Psychopomp Ensemble and an Affiliated Artist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Chi-Wei Lo, pianist:

Chi-Wei Lo is a pianist, improviser, and arranger whose performances utilize a plethora of musical languages. As a co-founder of the Psychopomp Ensemble, Lo has continually pushed boundaries, blending interdisciplinary art forms with both traditional and avant-garde musical elements to create compelling concert experiences.
Lo has been presented by the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, The Lancaster Piano Festival, and The Harvard Musical Association, among many others. Lo is a writer, contributing reviews and interviews to the Boston Musical Intelligencer. He was also on the jury panel for the Lancaster International Piano Festival Competition and the A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition.

Lo holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in piano performance from The Juilliard School. He is expected to complete his Doctor of Musical Arts at the New England Conservatory in Contemporary Musical Arts this year. Currently, Lo is an Assistant Professor in Composition at Berklee College of Music and a Theory Instructor at the New England Conservatory.