Yadong Guan
Arts & Expression, East Asian, Music
Born in Beijing, China, Yadong Guan started studying Pipa at the age of seven. She completed her university training at the Central National Conservatory in Beijing as a musician with Master Lin Shi Cheng, an artist and renowned teacher in China. She was awarded the first prize of National Art Student Contest in 1996. Since then, she has been selected many times to participate in cultural exchanges and distinguished herself in various contests as a Pipa virtuoso as well as a composer.
As a ministerial prize recipient, honoured by the United Nation's World Women's Conference, Yadong has participated in several China National Television broadcasts and been invited to host and give Pipa lessons in a video series that is distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Elected Miss Capital by the
Women Association of Beijing, this Pipa artist has devoted a
record to the traditional repertoire of her instrument. In Canada
since 1997, Yadong completed her Masters degree in composition
at the Faculté de musique de l'Université Laval
and continues to explore the Occidental repertoire that could
be played by her instrument. She established the first string
band in Quebec that works in an East meet West style. The group,
comprised of local musicians, successfully merged Pipa and its
music with western musical instruments and repertoire. The band
is highly praised by audiences and the media. Local radio stations
and Radio Canada have interviewed her and broadcast her music
many times. She has also spoken at many conferences and workshops
on the topic of music history and culture in past and present
China.
Yadong Guan accomplishments:
- 2008 - Television Canal Bravo! SHOWCASE of Yadong Trio concert nationwide across Canada (February 16);
- 2008 - CBC Radio Canada, broadcasted Yadong Trio concert live (May);
- 2005 - XXI-21 production Inc. recorded album "Fréquence Pékinoise" (Yadong Duet and Trio) in Canada, distributed in North America and Europe;
- 2002 - Virtuoso of the celebrated musical group Mosaîka in Quebec;
- 1998 - Recorded album "Classic pipa selection" with China Central Broadcasting Orchestra in Beijing, China;
- 1996 - Grand prize winner in the professional category of China National Contest of Universities' Art Students, Beijing, China;
- 1995 - Special commendation at the 1995 United Nations World Women's Congress, Beijing, China;
- 1995 - Second prize winner of National Composition Contest, Beijing, China;
- 1993 - Elected as one of the Ten Miss Capitals, organized by Beijing Television and Beijing Women's Federation;
- 1992 - Invited to host an educational video series of Pipa instruction, which was distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
