GEORGE GAO
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chinese Erhu
The erhu, also called nanhu (literally "southern fiddle"), and sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese violin" or "Chinese two-string fiddle," is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument. The erhu can be traced back to instruments introduced into China more than a thousand years ago.
Born in 1967 in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, George Gao began studying the erhu at the age of six. After only two years, he soloed on the instrument in a performing arts concert organized by the Gansu Province government. In 1979, at age 12, he entered the affiliated school of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a prestigious school for talented children. In 1982, he won First Prize at the Shanghai Junior Instrumental Soloist Competition and a Silver Medal at the China National Junior Instrumental Soloist Contest.
In 1985, he was exempted from examinations due to his outstanding achievements and began his bachelor degree courses in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he studied both Chinese and Western music as well as conducting. That same year, he swept the three highest prizes of the Beijing China National Invitational Erhu Competition. He graduated with honor in 1988 and, in 1991, he moved to Toronto, Canada, becoming the first teacher of erhu at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Interested in many forms of music, George formed rock/pop bands (The Red Leaf, Snowman) during his stay in Beijing. Since his move to Toronto he has collaborated with many world music artists and joined many world music ensembles such as Silk Road Orchestra, Earth Spirit Orchestra, George Gao Ensemble, and Memento. He has pioneered the development of new music for the erhu, fusing traditional Chinese music with jazz, Western Classical music, New Age, and other ethnic music from different world cultures.
George co-composed with Brian Keane for Bill Moyer's Productions/Lenon Documentary three-part documentary film "Becoming American, the Chinese Experience." He is also a songwriter who has a few hit songs in China. He has written many erhu works including "Capriccio for Erhu," which was designated as compulsory work for the final round of the 2002 "International Dragon Cup Erhu Competition".
Links
http://georgegao.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gao
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