Kelan and Ziping performing on stage. Photo by Zabrina Deng
Ziping Chen
Cantonese Opera
Ziping Chen, born in Guangdong, China, is a lifelong practitioner of Chinese percussion and a respected musician in the tradition of Cantonese opera. He began studying percussion as a child under the guidance of his father, Jinbo Chen, and grew up immersed in the musical culture of Guangdong, where he became known as a skilled and dependable percussionist for Cantonese opera. In 2001, Ziping immigrated to the United States and began performing with his son’s ensemble, the Jing Ying Cantonese Opera Institute. He has remained an active member of the troupe, supporting rehearsals, performances, and community events throughout the Bay Area, where his steady rhythm continues to anchor the ensemble. Ziping has trained his grandson and apprentice, Kelan Chen, since 2010. His teaching emphasizes fundamentals, precision, and repetition, reflecting decades of professional experience. Now 87 years old, Ziping Chen continues to perform and teach, sustaining and passing down the Cantonese opera percussion tradition through daily practice and live performance.
Jing Ying Cantonese Opera Institute website
Apprenticeship Program
2025
Kelan Chen will study Chinese percussion for Cantonese opera through a year-long apprenticeship under the mentorship of his grandfather, Ziping Chen. This apprenticeship focuses on mastering traditional percussion instruments such as the gu and luo, with emphasis on tempo, timing, and expressive control that guide performers and shape dramatic storytelling on stage. Through hands-on training and oral transmission, the apprentice will learn how percussion sets emotion, movement, and pacing in live performance. By the end of the apprenticeship, Kelan aims to perform as a lead percussionist, carrying forward his family’s legacy and helping promote Cantonese opera to wider audiences.
