Wang Zixuan

Wang Zixuan is a first-year Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology at The University of Texas at Austin. His research interests lie at the intersection of music and the digital world, focusing particularly on new forms of musical activities online. Zixuan's work explores topics such as AI singing, virtual idols, and collective musicking on platforms like Bilibili, examining how digital media and technology are transforming musical experiences and communities. 

Zixuan holds a master of philosophy in music from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where his thesis, “Music as Virtuality: New Musicking on Bilibili,” explored the evolving landscape of music-making in virtual environments. He also completed a bachelor of arts in comparative literature and music at The University of Hong Kong. Throughout his graduate studies, Zixuan has conducted extensive virtual field research on Bilibili and collaborated with faculty and fellow students across multiple departments. Zixuan has served as a teaching assistant at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he facilitated lectures, led discussion sections, and assisted in curriculum development for courses such as “The Study of Music” and “Music and Popular Culture in Hong Kong.” His contributions to academia have been recognized with the Vincent and Mandy Chan Prize in Music and Fine Arts for his academic excellence. 

In addition to his research and teaching, Zixuan has presented his work at international conferences, including the Society for Ethnomusicology Global Online Chapter and the International Musicology Society's Regional Association for East Asia. His skills extend to video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut, as well as proficiency in multiple languages, including Mandarin, English, and Cantonese.