6-WIRE duo biography

6-WIRE is inspired by the historical connection between the erhu, the Chinese 2-stringed violin, and the 4-stringed violin – both essential leading instruments in the East and West. A Chamber Music America grantee with unique instrumentation, the Delaware-based 6-WIRE is a pioneering American duo that mixes traditional romanticism and virtuosity with new orchestral music. The two virtuosi celebrate diversity in performance, weave stories and context into their concerts with orchestras, and transform how live instrumental music is experienced. 

Ensemble in residence at the University of Delaware since 2010, 6-WIRE performs internationally for classical concert series, university series, music festivals, and outdoor and TV events, fulfilling its mission to promote cultural exchange while attracting new and younger audiences and supporters with new repertoire and sounds from around the world.

Founded by the award-winning violinist and producer Sean Gao, an award-winning concert soloist and producer, and erhu virtuoso Cathy Yang, 6-WIRE’s performances redefine traditional orchestral music as a “wildcard” duo delightfully surprising cross-generational symphonic audiences with forward-looking compositions and cutting-edge audio and video technology.

The resent seasons took 6-WIRE around the globe with performances of a commissioned triple concerto (for 6-WIRE and percussion) promoting world peace entitled “Beyond These Borders”, by American composer Mark Hagerty. The five-movement multipurpose concerto is designed for many types of orchestral engagements. It can be performed as a 10 to 20-minute educational event or the full 30-minute concert version. The concerto’s world premiere took place during 6-WIRE’s tour of six major cities in China with the University of Delaware Symphony under conductor James Allen Anderson, featuring percussionist Chen Zimbalista as a collaborating soloist. Their 30-minute New Butterfly Lovers Multimedia Concerto with original visual elements created by Sean Gao enjoyed a successful debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

6-WIRE’s other orchestral program offerings also include arrangements and compositions for orchestra and 6-WIRE by Sarasate, Saint-Saens, Brahms, Piazzolla, Gershwin, William Bolcom, Gang Chen, Jennifer Margaret Barker, Sean Gao, and new 6-WIRE commissions by leading contemporary composers of our time. 6-WIRE also collaborates with many Grammy-winning musicians, theatre actors and visual artists in orchestral concerts.

Grammy-winning sound engineer Andreas Meyer produced 6-WIRE’s two recent albums.