The Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture (CAFAC), along with its leadership and honorary leadership, is backing the growth of the Chinese American Music Festival and cross-cultural artistic exchange.
Eric HZ has taken part in music and cultural exchange activities, such as the Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American TV Festival, as well as Tan Jing’s Musical Journey at Alice Tully Hall inside New York’s Lincoln Center, acting as both host and performing guest.
After its debut in Dallas in 2026, the festival is working toward 2027 by focusing on artist exchanges, youth development, traditional music, and collaborative efforts.
A festival may last one evening, but the relationships created through culture should last much longer.”— Eric HZ (Hechen Zhao)DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture (CAFAC) is moving forward with the next stage of the Chinese American Music Festival, which was first held in Dallas in 2026 with the goal of creating lasting opportunities for musical exchange, artist collaboration, youth development, and cross-cultural dialogue between communities in the United States and China.
Looking ahead to 2027, CAFAC intends to expand artist participation, enhance original and traditional music offerings, and generate additional opportunities for young musicians, educators, and cultural organizations. Instead of being a one-time annual event, the festival is being shaped as an ongoing vehicle for people-to-people connection via music.
The festival is guided by Eric HZ (Hechen Zhao), founder and chair of CAFAC and initiator and chief planner of the Chinese American Music Festival, together with Christian TJ (Tangyu Jin), president of CAFAC and CEO of Notes Entertainment Group.
“Music can often cross boundaries before language does,” Eric HZ said. “We hope to create a space where people from different cultural backgrounds can listen to one another, understand the culture behind the music, and allow those connections to continue after the performance ends.”
The 2026 launch of the festival also introduced its core honors program, the AUREVO™ Awards of the Chinese American Music Festival, known in Chinese as the “Jinsheng Awards” (金声奖), which recognizes artistic achievement and contributions to music and cultural exchange.
The inaugural AUREVO™ Awards honored four artists, each also named a Founding Honorary Artist of the Chinese American Music Festival. Sha Baoliang received the China–US Arts & Culture Exchange · Outstanding Contribution Award; guzheng artist Yuan Sha received the China–US Arts & Culture Exchange · Traditional Music Global Communication Award; Song Yuzhe received the China–US Arts & Culture Exchange · Emerging Original Music Award; and erhu performer Chen Yimiao received the China–US Arts & Culture Exchange · Young Artist Heritage & Innovation Award.
Liu Xiaoqing, Tan Jing, Chen Jun, Ren Zhong, Ayanga and Shao Ziheng also expressed support through video greetings and related participation and were named Founding Honorary Artists of the Chinese American Music Festival.
The festival’s debut drew recognition and congratulatory messages from institutions and public figures in both countries. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States sent a congratulatory letter highlighting music’s role in cultural exchange, mutual learning and greater understanding between people.
The festival and its cultural exchange efforts also received Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative Judy Chu, acknowledging its work to promote cultural exchange and community understanding.
Additional organizations in China, including the China Council for the Promotion of National Trade, the Chinese Language Education Foundation, CCTV’s “Daguo Pinpai” program and the Huaxia Culture Promotion Association, also sent congratulatory messages related to the launch.
CAFAC has also supported the development of the Chinese-American Traditional Music Arts Exchange Association, focused on international exchange and talent development around traditional Chinese instruments including the erhu, guzheng and pipa. Its leadership includes Yitong Wang, Lijuan Luo and Tangyu Jin.
CAFAC’s development has also involved established figures in Chinese performing arts. Performing artist Zhang Baohe has served in an honorary leadership role and provided guidance to the organization, while soprano, opera artist and vocal educator Wan Shanhong serves in an honorary leadership role with CAFAC.
Alongside his work developing the festival, Eric HZ continues his work as a recording artist and cultural exchange advocate. In 2025, he participated in the 21st Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American TV Festival as a special performing guest at the Golden Angel Awards Ceremony, performing his original song “Child.” He was also presented with the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to International Arts and Culture by the Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American TV Festival.
In 2026, Eric HZ was invited to serve as a host and performing guest at Tan Jing’s Musical Journey at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.
In September 2026, he was invited to participate in the Recording Academy’s “A Conversation with Leaders in Asian Music,” where participants discussed the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category and broader questions surrounding Asian music in the global music landscape. He summarized his perspective: “Asian Pop should be a door, not a wall.”
Christian TJ brings a complementary focus on music production, project development and artist collaboration. Together, the festival’s leadership is working to expand relationships among artists, educators, cultural organizations and community partners while creating pathways for younger musicians to engage with professional stages and international collaborators.
Looking toward 2027 and beyond, CAFAC plans to continue developing the AUREVO™ Awards of the Chinese American Music Festival, broaden participation from artists in the United States and China, support emerging musicians, expand original and traditional music programming, and explore music forums, educational partnerships and cross-cultural collaborations.
“A festival may last one evening, but the relationships created through culture should last much longer,” Eric HZ said. “If this platform can help artists be heard, encourage young musicians and make people from different backgrounds more curious about one another, then music has already accomplished something meaningful.”
About the Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture
The Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture (CAFAC) is a U.S.-based nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to advancing cultural understanding and people-to-people exchange through music, arts, education and community programs. CAFAC organizes the Chinese American Music Festival and develops initiatives connecting artists, young people, educators and cultural communities across borders.
Chris Jin
Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture
festival@cafacofficial.org
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Sha Baoliang – “An Xiang (Secret Fragrance)” | China–U.S. Music Festival Launch Ceremony | Official Live Performance in Dallas
