The Soloists
Pan Changqing (Pipa)
Pan began studying pipa as a child, and graduated from the Shanghai Music Conservatory. Due to the influcence of her grandfather, a legendary pipa master of the Putong Style, she also became a follower of this style. Her marvelous traditional music skills create a brilliant pipa sound with the combination of rich and smooth sensations, which best demonstrate the soulful Putong Style. In 1980, she won the second prize at the the National Pipa Competition. Pan also received the Best Performance Award at the Asia International Music Festival. Pan has performed in concerts held in many countries and regions, such as Austria, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau, etc. Pan now serves as a standing commissioner of the Pipa Society at the China Traditional Wind and String Music Association.
Chen Huilong (Dizi)
Chen Huilong developed his superb technique as a teenage by studying Dizi under Chen Chunling. Afterwards, he received instructions from many respected masters, including Liu Guangyue, Chen Zhong, Wang Tiechui, Yi Mingshan, Kong Jianhua, Zhao Songting, as well as many others. After years of artistic refinement, Chen is nowadays recognized as an elite dizi musician in all of China, and as one of the prominent Dizi musicians following the Southern Style. Chen has preformed in many concerts as a soloist in China, and was also invited to perform in over 30 countries and regions in Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as in Hong Kong and Macau. Chen now serves as the Executive Director of the China Traditional Orchestra Anhui, is a member of the China Musician’s Association and a standing commission member of the Dizi Society at the China Traditional Wind and String Music Association and the Center for the Art of Dizi. He is also a researcher at the Chinese Dizi Culture Research Center.
Wang Yawen (Erhu)
Wang Yawen began studying Erhu at the age of seven and starting in 2000, she attended the Anhui Art Institute. In 2004, she was honorably admitted to the Anhui Song and Dance Ensemble for her outstanding performance skills. Wang took the second prize at the Traditional Music Instrument Competition of Anhui, and the third prize at the 7th Anhui Art Festival Music Competition. In 2006, Wang performed at the Erhu concerto, the Great Wall Capriccio, at the New Year’s Concert of Anhui. In the same year, Wang joined the Flower Drum Performance Group and participated in a successful concert tour in Hong Kong. In 2007, Wang performed as the leading Jinghu player in the Year of China–the Week of Anhui, a festival held in Russia. Russian audiences were amazed by her astonishing performance of Anhui folk music. In the 2007 Affection Cross the Strait Traditional Music Concert series, Wang served as the leading Erhu player and performed the Erhu concerto, The Prefect Match, and the solo piece Gan Ji. In 2008, she was highly acclaimed by the audience for her performance of the Erhu concerto, Farewell to the Newlyweds, at the first season of the Spring for Chinese Symphony Concert Series.
Zhang Jian (Erhu)
Zhang graduated from the Music Department of Anhui University, where he studied Erhu under Professor Tong Wenzhong. Zhang also received instructions from Professor Li Jianxiong at the Wuhan Music Conservatory.
Zhang has frequently performed in a number of concerts held in China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Zhang also performed the Huangmei Opera, Da Zhu Cao, in a duo together with the legendary Erhu master, Min Huifen. In collaboration with the Chinese Traditional Orchestra Macau, Zhang performed Er Quan Ying Yue.
In 2007, Zhang performed in the Year of China–the Week of Anhui, a festival held in Russia. Zhang now serves as the leading Erhu player and as the Deputy Director of the Chinese Traditional Orchestra Anhui. He is also an Erhu instructor at the Anhui Art Institute.
Wang Jingjing (Jinghu)
Wang Jingjing began studying Huqin at the age of six. She graduated from the Music Department of Anhui University in 2000. In 2005, she was admitted at the Shanghai Music Conservatory studying Erhu with the renowned Erhu master, Chen Chunyuan. Wang received the first and second prizes at the 6th and 7th Anhui Art Festival Instrument Competition. In 2001, Wang performed in Korea in the course of a cultural exchange program. In 2004, she held performance in an exclusive Anhui music concert organized by the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. In the same year, Wang performed in concerts held in Taiwan to enhance the cultural exchange between Taiwan and the Mainland.
Sun Zhi (Guqin)
Sun Zhi began studying Erhu at an early age. After being admitted at the Music Department of Anhui University, Sun studied Erhu under Professor Zhang Baosong and Guqin under Liu Chicheng, a legendary Guqin master of the Chu Cheng Style. Sun was also a student of Professor Li Xiangting at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. While studying at the university, Sun participated in music exchange programs held in Germany and France. In 2004, Sun won the third prize at the 7th Anhui Art Festival Music Competition. In 2006, Sun performed in concerts held in Sweden and was acclaimed by the audience and media for her Guqin performance where her sacred sounds touched the soul. In the same year, Sun performed in the 50th Anniversary Concert held in Beijing Music Hall celebrating the 50 Years of Foundation of the Anhui Song and Dance Ensemble. In 2007, Sun also performed in the Year of China–the Week of Anhui, a festival held in Russia.