Curator-Led Tour of Unearthed Musical Masterpieces from the Southern Kingdoms of Ancient China

The Musical Instrument Museum is hosting a curator-led tour of Unearthed Musical Masterpieces from the Southern Kingdoms of Ancient China on Thursday, November 19, 2026. It's a guided walk through the exhibition, led by one of the curators who put it together, so you'll be hearing the story from someone who knows the collection inside and out.

The exhibition itself centers on musical instruments recovered from the southern kingdoms of ancient China. These are pieces that were unearthed—literally dug up from the earth—rather than passed down through a continuous line of ownership. Because they spent centuries buried, they offer a direct look at the instruments and the musical culture of that region and era, rather than a version filtered through centuries of later changes. The tour takes you through those pieces, with the curator filling in the gaps on what they are, where they came from, and why they matter.

If you've spent time at the museum before, you know the scale it works with. A curator-led tour changes the experience from wandering on your own to following a specific thread through the gallery, with the chance to ask questions as you go. It's a good way to get a handle on the historical context of the southern kingdoms and the specific instruments they left behind.

The tour is on Thursday, November 19, starting at 2 PM at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E Mayo Blvd in Phoenix.