About Me
Yang Yueerhu soloistThe internationally acclaimed erhu soloist Yang Yue was born into a well-known musical family in Beijing. At age five she began her musical studies on erhu (Chinese violin), guzheng (zither) and piano, and soon began performing in public. A year later, one of China's most celebrated musical figures, Wang Guotong, heard Yang Yue in recital and strongly encouraged her to pursue musical studies at the Central Conservatory. Wang took Yang under his musical wing, instructing her as well as giving numerous performances. During her conservatory years, Yang Yue received first prize in the Long Yin Instrumental Performance Competition in 1996, the gold medal in Ministry of Culture Annual Music Competition in 1999, and in 1997 and 1998 the Chinese National Cultural Foundation Scholarship – an honor bestowed upon four musicians out of more than 5,000. In 1999, Yang Yue was awarded a Bachelor degree with top honors, having served as the solo erhu player (concertmaster) with the resident orchestra for four years. In 2000 Yang Yue became the associate concertmaster of the Central Chinese Traditional Instrument Orchestra, also appearing frequently as a soloist with that ensemble, and touring extensively throughout Asia, Europe and North America.During the orchestra's 2000 tour, Yang Yue was soloist in Lincoln Center, New York and the Kennedy Center, Washington DC. In 2001 Yang received the silver medal in the most prestigious erhu competition – Tian Hua. The following year, the Japan-Chinese Cultural Arts Center awarded her a fellowship comprised of a year-long residency in Tokyo in which she toured Japan extensively giving concerts, master-classes and recording.Upon returning to Beijing, Yang became a professor at the China Contemporary Cultural Academy. She recorded two solo CD's for the Tian Tian label which were released in March 2004. Following these releases, Yang Yue made more than 30 television appearances playing erhu on national television stations in Beijing and throughout China. In 2005 Yang appeared as an erhu and guzheng soloist in Nike Morris's Wheel of Life, traveling to Johannesburg, South Africa and then to London for an extensive run at the West End's Peacock Theater. In 2007 the Chinese National Government chose Yang Yue to be a cultural ambassador to give concerts in Vienna, Frankfurt and Munich. She was also invited the following year by Central Chinese Television to be a cultural representative performing in Beijing and Los Angeles in celebration of the upcoming Olympics.In May 2008, Yang appeared before thousands of New York Met fans, playing erhu at Asia Night – the first appearance by a traditional Chinese musician at Shea Stadium. Yang was a featured soloist in the 2008 Spoleto Festival (Charleston, North Carolina) in 20 performances of The Monkey's Journey to the West – by Damon Albarn of Blur, and Gorillaz fame. Yang Yue participates frequently in community outreach programs in New York and the East Coast, playing schools and retirement homes, libraries and hospitals.
