Music Department Events

Two of the most prominent Chinese musicians from Beijing - Yangqin master Chen Xiangyang, and Erhu master Cao Dewei - will perform solos, duets and a world premiere with the Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble on Friday, May 3rd, 8:00pm. 

Don't miss the Lecture with guests Chen Xiangyang & Cao Dewei on Wednesday May 1, 3:30-4:30 in Kracum Hall.

Chen Xiangyang

One of China’s top yangqin performers, Chen Xiangyang is currently head of plucked instruments and principle yangqin performer for the China National Traditional Orchestra. She has also held positions as Director of Instrumental Music at the China Conservatory’s Institute of Continuing Education and postgraduate mentor at the Institute of Art and Media at Beijing Normal University. 

Chen was awarded the “Excellent Performance Award” at the national traditional instrumental music competition held by the Ministry of Culture in 1982. In 1985, she was awarded the title of “Beijing City Excellent Worker in Culture and the Arts.” In 1987, she won first prize in the first International Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo Competition, and in 1996 was listed as the first yangqin performer in the Ministry of Culture’s assessment of professional achievements in the arts. In 1997, Chen was awarded the highest honor in Uzbekistan’s first Samarqand International Music Competition.

Chen has performed with famous conductors in concert halls in more than fifty countries throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. She has participated in large-scale productions with the China National Traditional Orchestra worldwide. Her performance of a yangqin concerto at  the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing received critical acclaim, and her solo performances have been broadcast numerous times on China Central Television. She has served as a judge for traditional music competitions hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and China Central Television. Chen has been awarded an “Outstanding Teacher Award,” published a personal monograph and educational DVD, recorded many CDs, and published several articles. Her outstanding achievements have been included in the “Library of Chinese Experts and Talent” and “Dictionary of Chinese Experts.”

Cao Dewei 

Cao Dewei is a professor in the Traditional Music Department, Director of the String Music Research and Education Department, and doctoral student mentor at the China Conservatory of Music. Cao won the “Finest Performance"award in the nationwide “Beijing Erhu Invitation Tournament” in 1985, and first prize in the 1987 “International Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo Competition.” He is vice president of the Erhu Society of the Chinese Musician’s Association.

Cao has published many books on erhu techniques and performance and has compiled a broad range of educational materials introducing erhu repertoire and teaching students how to play the erhu including  “Famous Pieces of Chinese Classical Music,” “Tips from an Erhu Master,” “Resonance of the Strings,” “Master of Traditional Music: Erhu Recordings of Cao Dewei,“ “Famous Erhu Classics,” “New Music of the Central Plains,” “Chinese Huaxia Chamber Music,” and many other CDs. He has trained a large number of master’s students, undergraduates, and professional performers for arts institutions and performance troupes across China and abroad. Many of his students have won gold, silver, bronze, and excellent performance awards at important national competitions such as the “Golden Bell Award,” “Wenhua Award,” “Tianhua Cup Erhu Competition,” and “Dunhuang Cup Erhu Competition.”Cao has professionally visited many countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Macao, and Hong Kong. He has held many solo and master-student concerts in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Hunan, Hainan, Shandong, Yingkou, Tokyo, Kyushu, and other locations. Cao’s personal achievements have been recorded in the “Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Professors.