Liu Fang

Liu Fang plays two traditional instruments - Pipa (Chinese four-stringed lute)and Guzheng (Chinese zither with 21 strings and movable bridges for the purpose of tuning). Born in 1974 in Kunming in the Chinese province of Yunnan, Liu Fang began studying the Pipa at the age of six and gave her first public performance as a Pipa soloist when she was nine. In 1985, she played for Queen Elizabeth during Her Majesty's visit to China. Honoured with several provincial and national prizes, Liu Fang graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Since moving to Canada, she has performed numerous concerts throughout world to massive acclaim, including solo recitals of Chinese traditional and classical music as well as contemporary music with orchestras, string quartets and ensembles. Celebrated in the press as the "divine mediator" (World, 2006), "without question the greatest ambassadress of the art of the Pipa in America and Europe" (La Presse, 2002) and "the empress of Pipa" (L'actualité, 2001), Liu Fang is known as "possessing virtuoso technique, grace and a unique empathy toward the music she plays - whether it is a traditional and folk tune or a modern Western composition" (All Music Guide, 2003). Her playing is described as "Masterful, graceful and riveting" (BBC, 2004). Liu Fang received the Future Generations Millennium Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts in 2001 and French l'Académie Charles Cros award in 2006. More detailed and updated information is found in Liu Fang's official site.