Yu Yuanchun

Yu Yuanchun is currently pipa soloist with the Chinese National Orchestra. Yuanchun began studying the pipa at the age of 5 with the celebrated virtuoso Zhou Xianshun. In 1996 she was admitted to the primary school of Central Conservatory of Music. In 2004, she was recommended for acceptance to the Central Conservatory where she studied with Professors Li Guanghua, and Fan Wei, receiving her Bachelor's degree in 2008 and was named that year’s “Outstanding Graduate” by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. In 2011, Yuanchun earned her Master Degree, graduating “cum laude” from the Central Conservatory of Music. Throughout her time at the Central Conservatory, Yuanchun received numerous academic awards, and was a recipient of the Fu Cheng Xian Memorial Scholarship for excellence in performance and artistic potential. On May 7, 2011, she gave her Master’s Recital, which was later recorded and released as her self-titled debut album, "Yu Yuanchun." Yuanchun has performed around the world, appearing as a featured soloist with orchestras and ensembles in the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Denmark, Cuba, and more than twenty countries and regions. 

Yuanchun has earned numerous professional awards and prizes since her early days at the Central Conservatory. In 2000, 2002, and 2004 she received the TianTian Award in the National Instrument Competition from the Central Conservatory in addition to the New Music Performance Award in 2000, a Silver Medal in the first "National Youth Art Competition" for Pipa (2002), the "Wenhua Art Colleges Award" (2005), First prize in the Sixteenth Taipei Folk Instrumental Concerto Competition (2009), a Silver Medal in the Eighth China Music Golden Bell Awards (2011), and a championship ranking in CCTV Folk Instrument TV Competition (2012). She has performed on many CCTV Spring Festival Gala broadcasts and has appeared as an UNESCO invited artist.

Published works:

"Yu Yuanchun", Pipa solo album published by the People's Music Publishing House;

"One with Nature", Featured soloist on environmental/concept album CD published by Rhymoi.