Composer in Residence - David Wei-Han Dai

Witness music in the making with resident composer David Wei-Han Dai as he creates new work inspired by the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Yield Strength.

David will work onsite intermittently over three days, with performances of the final work with San Ureshi at 6.30pm & 7.15pm as part of First Fridays: Elastic.

David Wei-Han Dai is an Adelaide-based erhu performer, composer and collaborator whose practice bridges traditional Chinese music and contemporary performance. His work moves between performance, improvisation and cross-disciplinary collaboration, exploring how sound can unfold in space and transform through attentive listening. David is interested in the fluidity of form and the generative possibilities of sound, where musical ideas emerge and shift in interaction with their surroundings.

He has performed internationally across Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Africa and China, and has performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. He is a teaching artist with Musica Viva Australia and co-founder of the ensembles San Ureshi and Silk Strings Ensemble. David has previously presented an in-gallery improvisation at Nexus Arts in response to Alice Hu’s exhibition Chaostopia, engaging with the concept of hundun (渾沌)—a state of generative chaos where sound and form remain fluid and new structures emerge through interaction.

San Ureshi — meaning “joy of the trio” — is an Adelaide-based ensemble bringing together erhu, guzheng and percussion. Formed in 2019, the group explores cross-cultural sound through a blend of original compositions, reimagined traditions and collaborative processes.

Their work is characterised by a balance of meditative textures and rhythmic vitality, creating immersive sonic environments that invite deep listening. Recent performances include appearances at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and projects with the Art Gallery of South Australia, as well as national touring with Musica Viva Australia’s education program.

Through each performance, San Ureshi creates spaces for connection, where sound, culture and audience meet in shared experience.