Xiaoxiao (筱潇 xiǎo xiāo) Hou is a professional Chinese zither (guzheng) player who is completing her doctorate research on music and dementia at the University of Liverpool. 

 

With strong interests in music and performing arts, she acquired her Bachelor in Music Education from Jiangnan University China, Masters in Musicology from Durham University and Applied Psychology from University of Leeds. Her PhD project is located across the fields of Psychology, Public Health and Music, researching means to culturally adapt and better implement individualised music intervention for ageing and dementia care. 

 

Xiaoxiao’s experience of dementia has developed as a result of care experience for her late grandmother and the impact she witnessed on her mother. She has been involved in many charitable activities and professional events in dementia research and care. Her research has been published in NHS magazines and she has been invited to speak at many notable events, as well as directly advising key organisations in this field. 

 

As a performer, she has held many Guzheng concerts in both China and the UK venues, from prestigious concert halls to community hubs, often expressing complex themes with musicians from a broad range of genres. This openness to new audiences and diverse ideas has helped to shape her as a professional musician. 

 

The path she has chosen has meant that Xiaoxiao has required a high degree of empathy, patience and adaptability to match her technical and academic skills in both research and music. With her years of research background, musical knowledge and skills, as well as networking with local communities, she can contribute to the MDFR team with data collecting, playlist generating, as well as community engagement.