Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Indonesian Musician Ngartini Huang Brings Guzheng Fusion To India
Ngartini Huang is a musician from Indonesia who plays the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument.
She first became interested in its music while watching martial arts movies.
She later studied at a music school in Shanghai.
In New Delhi, she performed songs she wrote herself with a small band.
Her music mixes Chinese traditions with sounds and ideas from other countries.
One song was inspired by jade, another by her daughter’s wedding, and another by Jaipur.
Ngartini wants her performances to feel happy as well as calm.
She also teaches music and hopes to work with more young musicians from Indonesia and India.
Ngartini Huang’s fascination with martial arts movie music led her to study the guzheng and pipa.
She performed at New Delhi’s Soundscapes of India festival on August 29, accompanied by flute, keyboards and percussion.
Her set included compositions such as Jadeite, Au Revoir and Pink Raga, which connect personal experiences with Chinese, Indian and Indonesian influences.
Ngartini aims to make guzheng performances more joyful while preserving the instrument’s peaceful and serene qualities.
She runs a music academy in Medan, lectures at the University of North Sumatra and plans to collaborate with Indian and North Sumatran musicians.
- Who
- Indonesian musician and guzheng performer Ngartini Huang, accompanied by Aldo, Zakky and Lana.
- What
- Ngartini performed a guzheng-led set featuring original compositions and musical influences from China, India, Indonesia and elsewhere.
- When
- The performance took place on August 29; the article says she was in New Delhi last week and plans to return in January.
- Where
- Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- She was invited to the Soundscapes of India showcase and wanted to promote the guzheng while exploring collaborations with Indian musicians.
- Main performer
- Ngartini Huang
- Featured instrument
- Guzheng, a Chinese zither with at least 21 strings
- Festival
- Soundscapes of India
- Organizers
- Indian Performing Right Society and MusiConnect India
- Performance date
- August 29
- Venue
- Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi
- Planned return
- Ngartini plans to visit Kolkata and Goa in January