Shen Qi

Shen Qi was born in Nanjing, China. She began to play Erhu when she was six. At the age of eight, she was selected as a soloist for the famous Nanjing Xiao Hong Hua Art Group, a prestigious arts institution for the youth. During this period, Shen Qi performed Erhu in several different countries, including Japan and Singapore. At 17, she began her studies at the music department of Nanjing Normal University, where she received professional training in Erhu performance. Shen Qi completed there her bachelors degree of arts at age 21. Since graduating, she has been actively performing and teaching, both in China and abroad.

Shen Qi has immigrated to Canada in 1994 and is living in Montreal ever since. Throughout the years, she has contributed to many innovative projects, recording for both T.V. and movies such as «La Face Cachée de la lune» (The Hidden Face of the Moon) and «La Coupure»; And, most recently, she has been collaborating with Michel Cusson on the music score of the upcoming movies, "The Race to Mars" and "Dinosaurs Alive" and Judi Richards on her new album "Du septieme ciel".

In 1996, Shen Qi made her first recording, "Famous Erhu Melodies". In 1997, she was invited to play as an Erhu soloist in "Le Monde de Jos Bello", presented by L'Auguste theatre. This same year, she released her second and third recordings, "The Everlasting Impression" and "Really Miss You". In the following two years, she was invited to play Erhu solo in various concerts, including the Soiree Benefice de l'Accueil Bonneau (1998) and the musical comedy, "Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours" (1999).

Since then, Shen Qi has performed at numerous local, national, and international events, including the Festival des Musiques du Monde (2005, 2006 and 2007), the Multi-cultural Concert in Aid to Sri Lankan Children of Tsunami (2005), the Montreal International Jazz Festival (2004), the Festival du Patrimoine Asiatique de Musique (2002-2004), the Festival des Mosaicultures Internationales de Montreal (2000), and many others. In June 2006, she was invited to perform with two other asian artists with the Montreal Musicians of The World Symphony Orchestra for their inaugural concert, "The Music We Love". She has also joined the Montreal music collective, l'Ensemble du Carre St-Louis ; l'Ensemble will offer a quartet featuring erhu, flute, guitar and bass, an interesting fusion of Occidental and Oriental musical cultures - Classical, Jazz, Popular and Traditional European and American Music with a Chinese flavour.

Her music can be heard at the Chinese Garden of the Montreal Botanical Garden , where she plays from mid-May until the end of October.

The album A Lover's Tears was released in 2004 and commemorates the ten-year anniversary of Shen Qi in Montreal. The mixture of reflective and melancholic sentiments that she has carried with her since leaving her homeland is captured in the selection of music she has chosen for this anniversary album.

Soulful Strings is Shen Qi's latest album released in May 2007. It features a sounds of the Erhu, Flute, Cello and Guitar, "Soulful Strings" is Shen Qi's coming into her own right as a virtuoso on the Erhu. This latest album is a blend of Western folk, Chinese traditional and original songs. From the first note to the last, Shen Qi's heart shines through this spiritual and flowing album. This album as well as her other four previously released CDs can be ordered online from Shen Qi's official web site