Masterclasses
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Erhu: Gao Bai
A classic Chinese bowed string instrument dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It has two strings and is played with a single bow positioned between them. Modern erhus usually use steel strings and a horsehair bow. Its tone resembles the human voice and is highly lyrical and expressive. Famous pieces include The Moon Reflected on the Er-quan Spring and Horse Racing. It is one of the most internationally recognizable Chinese instruments.
10H30
SALLE B15
Ruan: Di Lin
Originally called the Ruanxian, this instrument was named after Ruan Xian, a musician of the Western Jin period. It is the only traditional Chinese instrument commonly named after a historical person. The ruan has a round resonating body, four strings, and frets. Its tone is mellow, warm, balanced, and full. It is an important mid to low-range plucked instrument in Chinese orchestras.
10H30
SALLE B16
Dizi (Bamboo Flute): Feng Tianshi
A representative Chinese wind instrument whose history can be traced back to the Jiahu bone flutes of the early Neolithic period. Made of bamboo and played horizontally, it features a special membrane-covered hole that gives the instrument its bright, vibrant sound. In modern performance practice, northern-style bangdi is lively and piercing, while southern-style qudi is mellow and rounded. The dizi is a leading melodic instrument in traditional ensemble music, Jiangnan sizhu, and Kunqu.
10H30
SALLE B17
Pipa: Fan Yining
Known as the “King of Chinese traditional instruments,” the pipa is a pear-shaped, four-stringed plucked instrument. It originated in the pre-Qin period and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. Its lyrical pieces are delicate and expressive, while its martial pieces are powerful and dramatic. Famous works include Ambush from Ten Sides and A Moonlit Night on the Spring River.
10H30
SALLE B19
Guzheng: Ding Xuechun
Popular as early as the Warring States period, the guzheng has a history of more than 2,500 years. It typically has 21 strings and a body made of paulownia wood. Its tone is clear, bright, smooth, and elegant, with a wide musical range. Often compared to the piano for its expressive possibilities, the guzheng is one of the most iconic traditional Chinese instruments, blending strength with elegance.
10H30
SALLE B20
Erhu: Gao Bai (Lecturer, Traditional Chinese Instruments Department, Central Conservatory of Music; Ensemble Leader)
Gao Bai is a young erhu virtuoso, lecturer at the Central Conservatory of Music, and holder of a doctoral degree. She won First Prize in the Erhu Competition of the 12th Chinese Golden Bell Awards for Music, as well as the Gold Award in the Youth Division of the Wenhua Awards, among numerous other honors. In 2024, she was selected for the “Picking Excellence from the Art Garden” as one of China’s outstanding young performers of Chinese bowed string instruments.
Ruan: Di Lin (Associate Professor, Traditional Chinese Instruments Department, Central Conservatory of Music)
Di Lin is a young ruan virtuoso and associate professor specializing in ruan at the Central Conservatory of Music. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree. She also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Ruan Professional Committee of the Chinese National Orchestra Society. She was the Gold Prize winner in the plucked string category of the 2012 CCTV National Instrumental Music Competition. In recent years, she has successfully presented a number of solo ruan concerts at venues including the Concert Hall of the Central Conservatory of Music and the Peking University Centennial Memorial Hall.
Dizi (Bamboo Flute): Feng Tianshi (Lecturer, Traditional Chinese Instruments Department, Central Conservatory of Music)
Feng Tianshi is a dizi virtuoso with a doctoral degree and a young faculty member at the Central Conservatory of Music. She won double Gold Awards in both the solo and small ensemble categories of the Youth Division of the Wenhua Awards, presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. She has also been selected for the “Picking Excellence from the Art Garden” as an outstanding performer of Chinese wind instruments. She has performed with renowned orchestras such as the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, among others at home and abroad.
Pipa: Fan Yining (Doctoral Candidate, Traditional Chinese Instruments Department, Central Conservatory of Music)
Fan Yining is currently a doctoral candidate at the Central Conservatory of Music. She is a prizewinner of the 15th Chinese Golden Bell Awards for Music and the 8th Wenhua Awards, and a recipient of the National Scholarship. She has been selected for the 2026 National Arts Fund Youth Artistic Creation Talent Program and has been awarded the title of “International Youth Role Model” by the United Nations World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation.
Guzheng: Ding Xuechun (Doctoral Candidate, Traditional Chinese Instruments Department, Central Conservatory of Music)
Ding Xuechun is a doctoral candidate majoring in guzheng performance at the Central Conservatory of Music. She is a prizewinner of the 15th China Golden Bell Awards and won First Prize in the guzheng category at the 2019 CCTV Chinese Instrumental Music Competition Finals. She also received the top award in the ensemble category of the prestigious Wenhua Awards, China’s highest government prize in the performing arts. She is a recipient of funding from the National Arts Fund Youth Stage Performance Talent Program.
