Who am I? π
I like to call myself Cimbalom Guy. #cimbalomguy β€οΈππ΅
My official name is Matej Cip, and I am a Czech cimbalom artist based in Beijing. I perform on two instruments from the same family β the Central European cimbalom and the Chinese yangqin β building a bridge between two musical worlds that never knew they were cousins.
In May 2025, I received the Grand Prize at the International Cimbalom Competition, and today I also serve as president of the International Dulcimer Arts Alliance. But the story of how a boy from a small Czech village ended up playing hammered strings on three continents is a little more unusual. Let me tell it. π
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How it all started? π
At the age of 8, I first saw and heard the cimbalom, and it didn't take long for me to develop a lifelong passion for this instrument.
Grateful for my mentors. π§βπ«
The Czech Republic offers an artistically-centered education system, accessible to nearly every child interested in the arts. I joined this system and learned cimbalom fundamentals under the guidance of renowned Czech cimbalom professor, Ruzena Decka. At 15, I was accepted into the Janacek Conservatory of Music in Ostrava, where I studied under world-famous cimbalomist and composer Daniel Skala.
This education enabled me to become a cimbalom teacher within the Czech music education system, but my immense curiosity led me to dream about studying in the United States.
First cimbalom student at the university level in the US? π πΊπΈ
"I did not ask for approval. Instead, I kept believing in the cimbalom's potential until the world accepted me."
My belief did not allow me to give up π
Despite no US universities offering a cimbalom major, I was determined to establish new academic grounds for the instrument. After extensive research and communication with top US universities, Dr. Marcela Faflak connected me with Northern State University, where I became the first cimbalom student in the US. I found my place in the percussion department and sought feedback from professors in other music departments to best integrate the cimbalom.
Introducing the cimbalom to the American academic level has provided me with numerous opportunities to share the art of the cimbalom with diverse audiences. I've organized concerts and lectures, performed with orchestras, and commissioned a new piece for the cimbalom by renowned American composer, Anthony Plog.
Layover in Beijing ποΈ
I fell in love with Chinese music and culture and recorded a video about bringing the cimbalom to China and learning about the Chinese version called Yangqin. My initiative led me to China's top music school, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
In China, I studied under Dr. Liu Yuening, a renowned performer, professor, and ambassador for Chinese music and culture. Our collaboration established new connections between the Western cimbalom and the Eastern yangqin, making the dulcimer family more globally connected.
With both American and Chinese chapters behind me, one dream remained on the list:
A dream called New York π½
In August 2023, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to New York City with my cimbalom. Performing in the city where every musical tradition on Earth collides taught me that the cimbalom doesn't just belong to Czech folklore β it belongs everywhere people are curious.
π Read the full New York story here
Beijing, chapter two ποΈ
What began as a layover became my home. Today I live in Beijing, performing on both cimbalom and yangqin across Asia, Europe, and the Americas β in concert halls, conservatories, and cultural events where East and West can finally hear how much they have in common.
In 2025 came one of the proudest moments of my journey: the Grand Prize at the International Cimbalom Competition. I now lead the International Dulcimer Arts Alliance, connecting hammered dulcimer players around the globe, and I'm preparing to begin doctoral studies here in China. The bridge keeps getting longer β and there's room on it for you.
Let's make something together π€
π΅ Want the cimbalom on your stage? I perform solo recitals, lecture-concerts on the cimbalom & yangqin, and appear as a soloist with orchestras β in English, Czech, or Chinese. Get in touch β
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High-five with cimbalom mallets from Cimbalom Guy. β€οΈ
Want to know more? π
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