Zac Zinger (composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist) received an ACC Fellowship in 2016 to study shakuhachi (traditional bamboo flute) and research traditional music in Japan with masters Kinya Sogawa, Keisuke Zenyoji, and Akihito Obama (ACC 2011). During his fellowship, Zac also traveled to Taiwan to learn more about traditional Chinese bamboo flutes, the dizi and the xiao. There, he met erhu (traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument) player Chen Jia-Kuen (ACC 2016) and vocalist Hsieh Yu-Wei (ACC 2015) who would become his future collaborators.

Upon his return home, he wrote:  “I'm finally back in NYC after a truly incredible journey in Japan, and I want to convey my sincerest gratitude for giving me the opportunity to live in a dream for the last 4.5 months. I met so many amazing people, learned so much about the culture, and found a part of myself I didn't know I was looking for. I return home with a better understanding of human emotion, a sense of confidence, and sense of purpose.”

Four years later, from his window in Queens, Zac shares his music with his neighborhood as they applaud medical workers⁠—each note echoing the emotion, confidence, and purpose of his community.



Grantee Reflections is a platform for ACC alumni to share their collective voice as an international community of artists, scholars, and cultural ambassadors. This is a cultural exchange of words, image, video, and sound from around the world. While our bodies cannot travel, our minds can still meet.