Multi-instrumentalist Hong Wang Member of Chinese Nationalities Orchestra Society Artistic director of Melody of China Hong Wang is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Melody of China. A versatile multi-instrumental performing artist, music educator, and specialist in Chinese folk music, he plays several traditional Chinese instruments, including the erhu, banhu (Chinese fiddle), guanzi, sheng, flutes, and percussion. He has performed and lectured in the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia under the sponsorships of the European Foundation for Chinese Music Research, Kaochi Cultural Exchange Association, Germany Peace University and other world music festivals. Wang is a graduate of Nanjing Normal University’s Music Department, where he studied with the famous erhu (Chinese fiddle) master, Rui Zhang and the esteemed Professor Xiaojie Lu, virtuoso player of the Huqin (Chinese 2-stringed instruments). He is a member of the Chinese National Orchestra Society, the Chinese Musicians Association, Jiangsu Branch, and former Board Director of the Chinese Wind Instruments Society, Jiangsu Branch. At present, he is the producer of Melody of China’s annual concert and of The Festival of Experimental Music in San Francisco. A dedicated researcher in his specialized field, Wang has made numerous recordings of Chinese folk music, often traveling to remote villages to document his country’s rich heritage of ancient regional music. His work has been published internationally. He is known to ethnomusicologists worldwide as a contributing correspondent for CHIME Newsletter, published by the European Foundation for Chinese Music Research. In 1985, under the auspices of the Chinese government, Wang was appointed Chief Music Editor to compile an Anthology of Chinese QuYi (narrative style music), Jiangsu Province Volume. This accomplishment earned him the distinction of being the youngest authority in the field of regional folk music. Since 2000, he has produced many new music concerts, such as “Silk Road Suite” and “Si Jin Suite” (music by Yuanlin Chen); “Thundering Across the Sky,” a commissioned work by Yuanlin Chen; and “A Dialogue with Dancing Lions,” a commissioned work by Gang Situ, produced in collaboration with the Loong Mah Lion Dance Group. From his home base in San Francisco, California, Hong Wang continues to pursue his goal of artistic excellence. His colleagues and university faculty members consider him a major resource of Chinese traditional music. In the spring of 1995, he performed the Violin and Erhu Double Concerto (music by Gang Situ) with members of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra. At another performance of the same year, he played the sheng (mouth organ) in a production of Meredith Monk’s Opera, “Atlas,” accompanied by the Pacific Mozart Ensemble. In June of 1996, he was invited as a Chinese multi-instrumentalist and composer of Melody of China to the Tanz & FolkFest Rudolstadt (Folk Dance and Music Festival) in Germany. His performance was broadcast on Deutschland Radio, MDR Television Station, and Berlin Classical Music Radio Station, and his interview was carried in major newspapers. In November 1999, he performed as master erhu soloist in the Berlin, Munich and Hanover folk festivals in Germany. In June 2000, he was invited to perform at the “Concert in the Wildstage” by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in Berlin, Germany. On December 31, 2000, he was one of the lead musicians who performed for Tan Dun’s“2000 Today: A World Symphony for a New Millennium” (Sony Classical) in the Shanghai Grand Theater. The renowned composer, whose credits include the music for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” conducted the concert. In 2003 and 2004, as a lead musician of MOC, Hong Wang performed with San Francisco Symphony for its Celebrating Chinese New Year concert. Recently, he also performed at Sound Field Festival in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco, he also performed with other musicians at the Festival of New American Festival, "......while Hong Wang played the erhu as if it was a Fender Stratocaster resting upright on his lap, his fingers channeling Jimi Hendrix. Although the work flirts briefly with atonality, it is accessible to its very last note -- and very Western-sounding." (Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee) Wang’s recordings of Chinese music are available on both audio and videotapes. Telemark, Sony Classical©, Sega, Wind Record (Taiwan), Young Imaginations, Hansheng Cultural Productions, TDK Recording media Europe S.A., Image Entertainment, Wah Music, Water Baby Records have included him in world music CD and DVDs that feature Chinese traditional and contemporary music. Recordings: Rhapsodies, Anthony Brown's Orchestra, Water Baby Records (2005) International Hackbrett Festival, (volume ), Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany (2004) Three Voice, Kui Dong, New World Records (2004), Hong Wang, erhu, Ann Yao (guzheng), Tao Chen (dizi) Primary Voice, Sunbow/Yuanlin Chen©, Performed by Melody of China, Inc. & Sunbow (2003) 2000 Today-2000 passion, SonyCalssical©, played at NBC, ABC, BBC etc. over 60 television stations around world. (1999) Millennium Network recording played on 58 countries television on Millennium 2000. (1999) "Melody of China" Melody of China Ensemble, Chinese Classical Music Recorded by Sparks Production, produced by Hansheng Cultural Productions (1997) Erhu, banhu, gaohu, pipa, yangqin, dizi, zhongruan and percussion solo and ensemble of han and minorities' music "Island Immigrant Suite No.1" (1995) All music composed by well-known jazz musicians, pianist Jon Jang. This is one of Jon Jang's CD involving some traditional Chinese instruments. Hong played the guan-zi, zhonghu and er hu. "Oboe of the World" (1995) The CD was produced by Hiwood Productions. All music composed by Brenda Schuman-Post, an advocate of, and consultant for multicultural music education. The improvisations music of China was played by Hong Wang, yangqin Zhao and Peikun Xi. "Pure Yangqin" (1995) This is first CD of master yangqin soloist, Yanqin Zhao's in the United States. Produced by James Yee, Recorded by Sparks Production "Being in Motion" (1994) Produced by Young Imaginations, Inc. "High Moon" (1994) Solo, duet, Quartet, Quintet and ensemble of Chinese traditional instruments. Produced by Dunhuang Music Ensemble. Noteworthy performances: San Francisco Symphony's "Celebration Chinese New Year" Concert (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) Three Sound - Experrimental music festival (San Francisco, 2005) Soundfield Festival (Chicago, Philadelphia 2005) The Stern Grove Festival (July 2004) New Year Concert with San Francisco Symphony (January 2004) " Thundering Across the Sky, Striking Throughout the Earth" (January 26th, 2003) New Century Concert at Shanghai Grand Theater, China (Dec. 31, 2000) Asian American Jazz 2000, Oakland, California (September 22-24, 2000) Concert in the Wildstage (Konzert In Der Waldbuhne) with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Berliner Phiharmonisches Orchester (2000) Beijing Trio performance with Max Roach, Jan Jong, Francis Wong etc jazz musicians (2000) Perform with Asian American Big Ensemble - a Grammy nominated group (2000) International Festivals in Berlin, Munich, and Hanover (Nov. 1999) Recital in ABENDMUSIK 1998-1999 SERIES, York, PA (1998) Silk Bamboo Concert, Wonona, Minneapolis (April 1998) Touring Performances and workshops in Texas (1998) Touring Performances, Greenville, Mississippi (1997) Tanz & FolkFest Rudolstadt, Germany (1996) World Peace Year, Peace University, Berlin, Germany (1995) Sonoma Folk Festival, Sonoma County, California (1994 & 1995) Touring Performances and lectures in South Japan (1992) Touring Performances and lectures in Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium (1991) [Home] [Artists] [Top] Copyright 1996-2004 by Melody of China. 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Yangqin Soloist Yangqin Zhao Member of Chinese Nationalities Orchestra Society Yangqin Soloist Melody of China Yangqin (hammered dulcimer) Soloist of Melody of China Yangqin Zhao, prophetically named after the instrument she has become famous for playing, has established herself as one of the foremost yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) performers in the world, having been elected to the prestigious Chinese Musicians Association and the Chinese Nationalities Orchestra Society. Showing promise at an early age, she studied yangqin under professor Qian Fang-Ping of the Nanjing Arts College. In 1982, she graduated with honors from Nanjing Normal University's Music Department and eventually became head of the faculty of instrumental music of that university. 1982 was the year that produced another outstanding achievement in the developing career of Yangqin Zhao. It was the year when the Peoples' Republic of China, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, held the first nationwide competition for folk music instrumentalists, open to any one of China's more than a billion inhabitants. The contest was open to candidates playing any folk instrument of their choice. Yangqin Zhao, playing her namesake instrument, the hammered dulcimer, won the nation's highest award. Later, her performance of the Yellow River Boatmen Song, rearranged from a well-known piano piece, was recorded commercially in Shanghai. From 1984 to 1986, Yangqin attended the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to further study the yangqin under Professors Shengmao Hong and Mingqing Guo. At this time she ventured into new musical areas seeking innovative techniques to expand performance possibilities while retaining the pure, native characteristics of the traditional yangqin instrument. In 1987 and 1991, she performed in the Jiangsu Provincial Arts Festival and won the first prize on both occasions. Critics have praised the quality of her playing, comparing the surging momentum and tonal effect to that of a virtuoso piano performance. In 1987, Yangqin Zhao attended the Fourth National Congress of Chinese Musicians as the youngest musician in attendance. Her profile appears in the "Who's Who in Young Chinese"; published in 1990 and "The Chinese Musicians Yearbook" of the same year. In 1992 her name was listed in both "Who's Who in Musicians of Jiangsu Province" and also "Who's Who in Jiangsu Educators". Ms. Zhao has been invited to perform in many countries, including Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico and Germany, where she has lectured at universities, conservatories and music schools. In an excerpt from CHIME Newsletter by Frank Kouwenhoven, Secretary-general of the European Foundation for Chinese Music Research, he notes:" I was impressed not only by her high technical standard of playing but also the strong musical feeling she displayed during Performance and by her friendly and modest character." In June of 1996, she was invited as one of seven musicians who are masters on the Yangqin - like instruments (hammered dulcimer) for the Tanz & FolkFest Rudolstadt (Folk Instruments Festival) in Germany in September, 1996, she performed as the yangqin soloist with Shanghai Ethnic Orchestra. In June 2000, she was invited to perform at the "Concert in the Wildstage" by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in Berlin, Germany. Her recordings of yangqin (hammered dulcimer) music are on both audio and video tapes. Jiangsu Record Company, Wind Record Ltd. Inc. Taiwan, Telemark, Sega and Young Imaginations have included her in CD-Rom's and CD about worldwide music featuring Chinese traditional music. Recordings: "Yu Hongmei Erhu Collection" Vol. I, II (1998) Wind Records Co., Ltd. Taiwan. Yu Hongmei on erhu (Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing), Yangqin Zhao on yangqin (Hammered dulcimer). "Melody of China" Melody of China Ensemble, Chinese Classical Music Recorded by Sparks Production, produced by Hansheng Cultural Productions (1997) Erhu, banhu, gaohu, pipa, yangqin, dizi, zhongruan and percussion solo and ensemble of han and minorities' music "Pure yangqin" (1995) This is first CD of mater yangqin soloist, Yanqin Zhao's in the United States. Produced by James Yee, Recorded by Sparks Production "Bing in Motion" (1994) Produced by Visible Interactive. "High Moon" (1994) Solo, duet, Quartet, Quintet and ensemble of Chinese traditional instruments. Produced by Dunhuang Music Ensemble. "Masterpieces of Chinese Traditional Music"- I, II, III (1994) Produced by Wind Records Co., Ltd. Taiwan "Spirit on two Strings" Vol. I, II (1993) Produced by Wind Records Co., Ltd. Taiwan. Jiebing Chen on erhu (Chinese fiddle), Yangqin Zhao on yangqin (Hammered dulcimer). Noteworthy performances: San Francisco Symphony's "Celebration Chinese New Year" concert (2005) The Stern Grove Festival (July 2004) New Year Concert with San Francisco Symphony (January 2004) Asian American Jazz 2000, Oakland, California (September 22-24, 2000) Concert in the Wildstage (Konzert In Der Waldbuhne) with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Berliner Phiharmonisches Orchester (2000) Performing with Kunjun Opera "Peony Pavilion" group of New York Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at Perth International Folk Festival, Australia(2000) Performed with Kunjun Opera "Peony Pavilion" group of New York Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at New York Lincoln Center , Paris Autumn Arts Festival & Italy Milano Folk Festival (1999) Recital in ABENDMUSIK 1998-1999 SERIES, York, PA (1998) Touring Performances and workshops, Grapevine, Texas (1998) Touring Performances, Greenville, Mississippi (1997) Tanz & FolkFest Rudolstadt, Germany (1996) World Peace Year, Peace University, Berlin, Germany (1995) Sonoma Folk Festival, Sonoma County, California(1994) Touring Performances and lectures in Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium (1991) Touring Performances and lectures in Australia (1986) Photography by Steven Irving Order her CD: "Pure Yangqin" Listening the music sample"Three and Six" (San Liu) [Home] [Artists] [Top] Copyright 1996-2004 by Melody of China. 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Pipa Soloist Linhong LI Member of Chinese Musicians' Association Pipa (Chinese lute) Soloist of Melody of China Photography by Jim Hair Born into a musical family, Li has been passionately in love with Chinese folk music from a young age. She began taking Pipa lessons when she was nine years old. Over the years she had studied with numerous Chinese Masters, including Prof. Lin Shi-Cheng of the Chinese Music Academy, the ever-famous Pipa Performer Zhang Huan Mau of the Hei-Long Jiang Orchestra, Prof. Liu Zen-Yi of the Hu Nan Musical Academy, Pipa Master Fong Jin-Long of the Xing-Hai Musical Academy and Hai Nan University. In her performances, Li was always capable of combing the special skills she learned from every master and expanding the respective beauties to create her own characteristic art. At 17, she was already the Principal Pipa Musician in the Hen-Yan Orchestra, Hu Nan. Her busy schedule was filled with concert performances, appearances in radio and TV programs, and recording contracts with radio stations and TV studios. She had also appeared in numerous national contests and won many prizes. In 1982, Li won the Silver Award as the solo performer in National Folk Music Instrument Contest. In 1993, Li won the Outstanding Musician Award in the Hu Nan Professional Innovation Contest Award. In 1980, she won the Special Award in Hun Yuan Special Group Contest. In the same year, her performance of "Liu-Yang River" won the Hu Nan TV Artist First Prize. In 1988, she won the First Prize, Outstanding Musician, in the "Tong-Le Cup" Folk Music Contest. In I990, she was recruited as the solo performer in the China-the Beautiful Country Art Company. The Company had traveled to Hong Kong, Singapore and USA. Her Pipa solo programs had attracted major attentions from both music lovers and media. In 1991, she was awarded the First Prize in the "Pear and Peach Cup" Competition, sponsored by the City of Chinese Overseas, Sheng-Zhen. In 1992, Li represented China in the International Folk Art Festival, Salt Lake City, Utah. She performed her master pieces: In Siege, Spring Waters in the Flowery Night and True Dance (Dance Tune from the Yi People). She was later invited to perform in a nationwide tour in all major cities throughout the United States. In 1993, Li was recruited to China-the Beautiful Country, the amusement park in Florida, as Adjunct Solo Artist, regularly performing in the an and craft programs. Photography by Jim Hair [Home] [Artists] [Top] Copyright 1996-2004 by Melody of China, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Traditional Wind Instrumentalist Xian LU Member of Nationalities Orchestra Society Di-zi soloist of the Melody of China Xian Lu started taking flute lessons as a child. His teachers include the esteemed composer and principal flutist of Shanghai Folk Music Orchestra Chenglong Zhou, flutist Jingsheng Dai, and Professor Chunling Lu, the renowned flutist of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. While still in his teens, Xian Lu's proficiency of the flute instrument was widely recognized when he participated in numerous competitions and music festivals in the Shanghai area. In 1979, Mr. Lu entered Nanjing Normal University's Music Department and continued his studies under the tutelage of the famous flutist, Professor Keren Lin. In 1991, Mr. Lu went to the Department of Music in Turku University of Finland and began his studies in musicology. Recently, Mr. Lu was invited to the United States to become the guest professor of wind instruments in Laney College, Oakland, California. During his college years, Xian Lu's deep love for music propelled him to pursue a variety of topics ranging from flute performance to music theories, resulting in a well-rounded, systematic training. He began to develop his own performing style, and his reputation as a virtuoso soloist started to spread all over the country. In 1983, Mr. Lu graduated from college and went on to become the lecturer in the Folk Music Instruments at the Department of Arts, Shanghai Educational College. In 1986, Mr. Lu went to Australia on a two-month trip, during which he gave numerous lectures and recitals. In 1989, Mr. Lu won the first prize in wind instruments at the First Chinese Folk Music Instrument Competition. Mr. Lu's musicianship and his mastery of the flute instrument received critical acclaims not only at home but also around the world. In 1991, having finished his studies in Finland, Mr. Lu was invited to participate in many local art festivals and gave numerous performances and lectures on Chinese traditional wind instruments at colleges, museums and music halls around the country. Since 1986, Mr. Xian Lu has been invited to perform in many countries, including Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Russia and the United States. Xian Lu's flute playing incorporates both the southern and the northern styles of Chinese music. He has an exceptionally pure tone that is as moving as it is artistic, particularly when he interprets many of the folk music in China's southern provinces. In addition to flute, Xian Lu also plays many of the traditional Chinese wind instruments, including Xiao (vertically-played-flute), Bawu (copper-reed flute), Xun (Chinese ocarina). He is one of the best flutists in China's younger generation. Photography by Jim Block [Home] [Artists] [Top] Copyright @ 1996-2004 by Melody of China, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Ruan & Liuqin Soloist Haiyue ZHANG Member of Chinese Musicians' Association Ruan & Liu-qin Soloist of Melody of China At age of 7, Mr. Zhang started practicing Chinese musical instrument after his father who was a career musician The young Zhang performed and contested in numerous occasions as a child and had won many awards. At 11, he won the Grand Award in the First National Minority Musical Instrument Contest. At 15, he enrolled into Chinese Special Folk Art Academy, studied under China's most respected Yuan and Liu Charm Master and composer Mr. Lin-Ji Liang. With his special talents and years of hard work, Zhang had progressed his Charm skills to an exceptional level. At the same time he mastered other instruments, including Ching Charm, San-Xiang (three-stringed lute), and Rewapu. In 1989, he won the First Performance Award in the Chinese International Folk Instrument Contest. In 1990, he was selected as the solo performer in the China-the Beauty Art Performance Group, Sheng-Zhen, China. The Group went on tour to Hong Kong and Singapore many times and was extremely well received by the audiences in local communities. In May 1991, he received the Second Price in the ''Pear and Peach Cup" Art Performance Contest, Sheng-Zhen. In October-, he won the First Prize in the "Eagle City Celebration" Professional Art Performance Contest. In 1992, Zhang represented China in the International Folk Art Festival, Salt Lake City Utah, and was later invited to perform in a nationwide tour in all major cities throughout the United States. In 1993, Zhang was recruited to China-the Beautiful Country, the amusement park in Florida, as Adjunct Folk Artist, regularly performing in the art and craft programs. Mr. Zhang, in addition to his musical talents, is one of the few Chinese that can hand weave all kinds of miniature animals and objects with straws. The special craft was a well-kept secret in the Zhangs for centuries. Like his ancestors, Zhang inherited the handicraft from his father. His most noteworthy accomplishment was the replica of the ancient Nine-Dragon Dancing woven with his bare hands, a masterpiece that remains popular in the art circle in Beijing, China. Photography by Jim Hair [Home] [Artists] [Top] Copyright 1996-2004 by Melody of China, Inc. All Rights Reserved