Maestro Bin He’s creative spark has helped shape Irvine’s cultural scene since 2017, when he first took the podium of the South Coast Chinese Orchestra. His talents as both conductor and composer will be on display this spring in various performances.
“Music is such a great tool to connect people,” He says. “Even when we don’t speak the same language, people can feel your honesty, your love and your passion.”
From Anhui to Irvine
Born in Anhui, China, He began studying music at age 6. After graduating from the elite China Conservatory of Music, He conducted the Beijing University Orchestra. He immigrated to the United States in 2000, intending to study computer music at CalArts, but was turned away because he didn’t yet speak English. He’s now fluent.
Undeterred, He and his wife, guzheng player Yu Jiang Li, opened the String and Bamboo Music Studio in Walnut, where they taught for 17 years.
He went on to compose and record music for films, including the James Bond movie “Skyfall” and “The Forbidden Kingdom.” He also contributed to Disney projects in the U.S. and China. His signature style blends Asian and Western sounds, traditional and contemporary.
“My orchestra is not an ordinary Chinese orchestra,” He says. “Because we are in the States, it’s an opportunity to mix cultures. We combine traditional Chinese instruments, like the erhu, with Western strings: the violin, viola and cello.”
Bringing Chinese music to new ears
He is equally at home in concert halls and outdoor spaces. His original symphonic work “Legends” premiered at Segerstrom Hall in October 2024 and earned him an Outstanding Artist Award from Arts Orange County. But He says there’s something rewarding about performing for people who stumble onto the music unexpectedly at outdoor spaces.
“You reach such a broader audience when you’re outside,” He says. “People are passing by and say, ‘Whoa, that’s cool – what is that?’ You feel like your culture is being valued and what you do is meaningful.”
