George Gao

George Gao (zh-cp|c=|p=Gāo Sháoqīng, born 1967) is a Chinese-born erhu player and composer.

History

George Gao was born in 1967, in Shanghai, China. Gao began studying the erhu at the age of six. In 1982, he won First Prize at the Shanghai Junior Instrumental Soloist Competition and a Silver Medal at the China National Junior Instrumental Soloist Contest. [cite web |url=http://www.mgam.com/artists/gao/biography.html |title=George Gao biography |work=Marilyn Gilbert Artist Management Inc. |accessdate=2007-04-18 |date=2007 ] His performance skill exempted him from high school exit exams, and he entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.cite web |url=http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/archive/index.cfm?perID=490 |title=George Gao & Jenny Zhang |work=Vancouver Folk Music Festival |accessdate=2007-04-18 |date=1999 ] During his stay, he participated in a program to broadcast Chinese language radio from North America. He finished his Bachelor of Arts degree, and graduated in 1988 with honors. He was the first student ever promoted one year early from that school. [zh icon cite web |url=http://www.jianwangzhan.com/1/53889/6.htm |title=Erhu music players, George Gao |work=E:FC Forever |accessdate=2007-04-20 |date=2005 ] After graduation, he was invited to the International Orchestra as a solo artist. He founded the pop bands "Red Maple Leaf" and "Snowman" in Beijing. In 1989, he was invited to North Korea to host the World Youth Festival and the Arts diploma.

In 1991, he was admitted into the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and began studying piano and vocals.zh icon cite web |url=http://www.huain.com/study/html/prod_133.html |title=Huqin feature: George Gao |work=Huain, Chinese folk music online |accessdate=2007-04-20 |date=2007 ] He also established the Inner Pulse pop band during that year. Two years later, he became the first erhu instructor at the school, established the first erhu syllabus, and organized the first large erhu concert in Canada. In 2005, he was invited to play at the Governor-General's inauguration in Ottawa. [zh icon cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2005-09/30/content_3565767.htm |title=Chinese Erhu Virtuoso Debut at Canada's Governor-General's Inaguration |work=Xinhua Net |accessdate=2007-04-20 |date=2005 |author=Gao, Ying] He tours the world frequently, performing in entertainment centers such as the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and China.Gao has performed with multiple orchestras as a soloist, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra. His most notable work is on the Emmy Award-nominated soundtrack of the television series "". [cite web |url=http://www.bowfire.com/performers/11 |title=Virtuoso of the Chinese erhu |work=Bowfire Performers |accessdate=2007-04-18 |date=2007 |author=Amada, Eric ] He has also performed with the Canada-based violin group Bowfire.

Gao is presently still the erhu instructor at the Royal Conservatory of Music. [cite web |url=http://www.rcmusic.ca/ContentPage.aspx?name=full_faculty_list |title=Faculty List |work=The Royal Conservatory of Music |accessdate=2007-05-01 |date=2007 ] He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Jenny Zhang.

Notable Awards

* 1982: :* First Prize, Shanghai Junior Instrumental Soloist Competition:* Silver Medal, China National Junior Instrumental Soloist Contest
* 1985: :* First Prize, Beijing China National Invitational Erhu Competition :* Two Best Performance Prizes in two categories
* 1999: Recognition Award, 13th World Festival for Young Students. (North Korea)
* 2005: Gemini Award nomination, Best Performance in a TV series. (Canada)

Composition Credits

Films

Gao composed soundtrack music to some documentaries and films.
* Bill Moyer's Productions
* 2003: Lenon Documentary 3 part documentary film "Becoming American, the Chinese Experience" [cite web |url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=359652 |title=George Gao Filmography |accessdate=2007-04-18 |date=2007 |work=New York Times ]
* "Yellow Wedding"
* "Chinese Chocolate"

Original Compositions

* "Capriccio for Erhu"
* "Song of a traveler"
* "After the rain"
* "Birds in a foreign land"
* "Heaven on Earth"

Adaptations

Gao transposed many pieces into concert works for the erhu. Many of his adaptations successfully convey the same virtuosity displayed in the original versions, while adapting for the erhu, an instrument not accustomed to Western classical music. For example, one of the disadvantages the erhu has is only two strings, as opposed to the four-stringed violin. The player must reach an extended amount of notes on a single string to make up for this difference.
* Pablo Sarasate – "Carmen Fantasy", "Zigeunerweisen"
* Massenet – "Meditation from Thais"
* Saint-Saëns – "The Swan"
* Bach – Gounod "Avi Maria"
* Paganini – "Moto perpetuo"
* And others.

References

External links

* [http://www.georgegao.com Official Site]
* [http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1248780843 George Gao's Erhu World] – his personal blog.
* [http://www.rcmusic.ca/ContentPage.aspx?name=full_faculty_list Faculty List at Royal Conservatory of Music]