Dressd identically in black sleeveless suits and high heels, the 12 females on stage appeared modern and fashionable. However, they weren’t models, but traditional Chinese musicians.

Dubbed the 12 Girls Band, they presented traditional Chinese music mixed with modern pop, rock and jazz at the Shenzhen Grand Theater on Wednesday.

The show began with Miracle, a piece played with erhu, pipa, Chinese zither, Chinese dulcimer and flutes.

Passionate and rhythmic, the audience came to realize that these traditional instruments could also be used for hip-hop and rock.

The 12 Girls also put a Chinese twist to the jazz classics Five Beats and Seven Beats, gave a unique twist to Beethoven’s Fate, and performed Liu Sanjie, an adaptation of a Guangxi folk song played with a single string fiddle.

An elderly man said after the show: “They are talented. They interpret Chinese music with a groove, and play foreign songs with a strong Chinese flavor.”

The combination of spirited music, flawless performance, creative adaptation and feminine glamor have not only appealed to Chinese audiences but also won the band numerous fans overseas, especially in Japan.

More than 1.5 million CDs had been sold in Japan, since the band released its first album Miracle in July. That’s a first for a Chinese album in a foreign country.

Wang Xiaojing, the group’s founder, attributed the success to a blend of traditional and modern music, and the graceful but vigorous performers.

“Opinions within music circles are divided on whether it’s good or not to modify traditional instrumental music with modern methods, or whether play popular music with Chinese instruments.

“However, the success of the band proves that people love the new style. Foreigners enjoy the performance and recognize the Chinese music,” Wang said.

The 12 young musicians look beautiful and sophisticated. They were selected for the band from top students at the Central Conservatory of Music in 2001. Since then, they performed extensively in China and other countries and became well recognized, despite being publicity-shy.

One of the 12, Zhong Bao loves Nicole Kidman and jazz and plays the pipa. She said: “We all cherish the chance to perform as a team and to try a new artistic form. We’ve just got to keep improving and creating good music, otherwise we’ll lose our appeal.”

(China Daily  December 23, 2003)