Born in Nanjing, composer, singer, and pipa player Min Xiao-fen has become a fixture on the new-music, jazz and Chinese traditional musical scenes. Collaborations with such artists as John Zorn, Christian Marclay, Randy Weston, DJ Spooky, and Derek Bailey attest to her relentlessly exploratory spirit and open-minded approach to improvisation and music-making.

It would difficult to overstate the importance of Chou Wen-chung when it comes to contemporary music. Not only has he developed over the course of his almost 90 years a shimmering, pointillistic yet lyrical style, but he edited and completed many of his teacher Edgard Varèse's works.

Tianjin-born and California-native composer Lei Liang joins us from a studio in Rome to discuss his creative process, the importance of putting the weight of one's life into every sounding note, and the manner in which cultural identity manifests itself in his music.

As an active presence on the New York new-music scene, the young Shanghai-born composer Du Yun cuts a striking figure. From prestigious work with New York City Opera and The New Juilliard Ensemble to downtown, electronic experimentation with the International Contemporary Ensemble and schizoid balladry at Cornelia Street Cafe, Du Yun is a distinctive voice that will stretch well into the 21st century.

Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in Music, Beijing-born composer Zhou Long has been a fixture of the American contemporary music scene for almost 30 years. Composer Huang Ruo interviews Zhou Monday, Jan. 23 at 12 pm.