Zhao Jiazhen

Zhao Jiazhen is professor of Guqin in the Folk Music Department of the Central Conservatory of China. In 1980 she enrolled at the Guqin Folk Music Department of the Central Conservatory of China as a student, graduating in 1984. Following her graduation she has been an instructor there. Ms. Zhao is a member of the Musicians Association of China, Director of the Beijing Guqin Research Association, a member of the Chinese Folk and String Music Society, Director of the Chinese Qin Committee of the Folk and String Music Society and a member of the Guqin Experts Committee of the Folk and String Music Society. She also served as adjudicator of the “National Youth Folk Music Instruments Competition” in 2002.

Zhao has toured the US, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Japan,Hong Kong and has appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including the Chinese Symphony Orchestra, the Movie Orchestra of China, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, the Brussels Symphony Orchestra of Belgium, and the National Orchestra of Taipei City.

In 2001 and 2002 Ms. Zhao performed in the “World Renowned Musicians and Instruments Concert” at Zhongshan Hall in the Forbidden City in Beijing. The concert featured three priceless Tang Dynasty guqins and five Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari violins worth more than $200 million. The concert became legendary in musical circles throughout China.

Zhao Jiazhen is much in demand as a session musician for film and television soundtracks, including the music for the mini-series “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, “Dream of the Red Chamber” and “Fire on Yuanming Yuan ”. Ms. Zhao has recorded or appeared on numerous internationally available CDs, including “Masters Of Traditional Chinese Music” and “Ancient Melody of Poem” .

In October 2009 Ms. Zhao will appear in concert with Pipa virtuoso Wu Man at Carnegie Hall in New York, as part of their Musical Journeys Through China Series.