Zhao Cong

Zhao Cong, born in 1976, is the deputy director of the China National Traditional Orchestra, a pipa player, a national first-class actor, and a master tutor. He enjoys a high reputation in the international classical music world. An outstanding representative of Chinese musicians. Member of the All-China Youth Federation; Consultant of Peking University Art Troupe; Founder of China Folk Music International Network; the first art visiting scholar at Stanford University in the United States; studying in the master's class of arts management at Peking University; the first National Arts Fund to support musicians; and China Day Distinguished Artist at Harvard University in the United States. ; Distinguished Academy Tutor at Fudan University in Shanghai; Distinguished Composer by Apple Inc.; Elected Representative to the 19th National Congress of the Central Government; Expert with Special Allowance from the State Council; "Cultural Master" and "Four Batch" Talents and Outstanding Academic Leaders of the Central Propaganda Department .

Chinese name: Zhao Cong

Nationality: Chinese

Ethnicity: Han

Date of birth: 1976

Occupation: Pipa player

Graduation school: Central Conservatory of Music

Representative works: "Carmen", "Pipa New Words", "Listen to China", "Classics Eternal", "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night" 》

Main achievements: The Ministry of Culture awarded him the "Overseas Promotion Personal Contribution Award"

The United States' "International World Music Performance Master" certification

Special Allowance Expert of the State Council

"Cultural Masters" of the Central Propaganda Department and "Four Batches" Talents and Outstanding Academic Leaders

Representative works: House of Flying Daggers, Flying Silk Road, Fuji Tianchang, Le Ming Oriental, Rose Tango

Position: Deputy Director of the Central Chinese Orchestra

Professional Title: National First-Class Actor

Performance

Visited successively More than 50 countries and regions including Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. More than 40 foreign heads of state have listened to her music. He has won the "First Prize" of the National Youth Professional Pipa Competition for many times; the "Overseas Promotion Personal Contribution Award" of the Ministry of Culture; the gold medal of the San Jose International Musical Instrument Competition in the United States; and has published solo albums "Carmen", "Listen to China", "Classics Eternal" ", "Listen to China" became the first solo album of Chinese folk instrumental music released by Universal International Records. It has been collected by the National Library of China and the National Library of the United States. The personally designed "Backpack Pipa" won a national patent; the original pipa solo "Silk Road Flying to the Sky" won the first National Art Fund review for outstanding funding projects.

The 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, the 2017 "Belt and Road" International Summit, the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Russia and other important state events; in 2018, he was commissioned by the Propaganda Department of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee to compose the Pipa Concerto "Fuji Tianchang" " and premiered in Japan and South Korea; in October 2018, he was appointed deputy director of the Central Chinese Orchestra by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; in April 2019, he completed the pipa suite "Music in the East" commissioned by the Shanghai Pudong Government 》.

On May 12, 2013, Zhao Cong held his first solo concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts: "Pointing to the World - Zhao Cong and the China National Traditional Orchestra Pipa Concert", a famous drama of the National Theater Director Tian Qinxin is devoted to cross-border guidance. This unprecedented feast of folk music caused a huge sensation throughout China and even the world's music scene, creating a new form of national instrumental music performance.

On September 23, 2015, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea held a reception to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. China's 2015 East Asia Cultural Exchange Envoy and famous pipa player Zhao Cong was invited to attend the reception and performed Chinese and Korean traditional folk music with Korean artists, playing a humanistic movement of China-South Korea cooperation.

On September 4, 2016, at the theatrical performance of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, Zhao Cong played "Moonlight Night on the Spring River" and "Tea Picking Dance" for the heads of state of the 20 countries, lighting up the West Lake with his fingertips.

From October 1st to 4th, 2016, he was appointed by the Ministry of Culture to visit Greece and perform a special concert "Dialogue of Two Great Civilizations" at the world-famous New Acropolis Museum in Athens.

On October 2, 2016, pipa player Zhao Cong, who participated in the artistic performance of the G20 Summit, received a commendation.

On December 20, 2016, Baidu Encyclopedia specially invited Teacher Zhao Cong to record a short video for Pipa. Pipa player Zhao Cong’s instant encyclopedia video is now online under the double entries of “Pipa” and “Zhao Cong”.

The 2017 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference was held in Boao, Hainan from March 23 to 26. At the opening ceremony on March 25, Ms. Zhao Cong brought Pipa to leaders, scholars and guests from all walks of life. A wonderful rendition of the song.

On May 13, 2017, at the state banquet of the "Belt and Road" Summit Forum, Zhao Cong performed a song "Blooming" for the heads of state of 40 countries.

The opening concert of the 2017 China “Russian Culture Festival” was held at the Guangzhou Grand Theater on September 12. Zhao Cong and Yuan Chenye represented China at the opening concert of the 2017 China “Russian Culture Festival”.

On the evening of September 19, 2017, the "Taihe World Ancient Civilizations Protection Forum" kicked off at the Forbidden City. Experts and scholars from 21 countries and representatives of 3 international organizations arrived in Beijing. Zhao Cong was welcomed by the organizer of the Forbidden City. At the kind invitation of the museum, they played the opening songs of the dinner that day, "Spring River Flowers on a Moonlit Night" and "Send Me a Rose." They received warm applause from the international representatives and set off a joyful atmosphere at the venue.

2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. The President of South Korea embarked on a visit to China. On December 14, the two heads of state held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and watched the "25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and South Korea" Commemorative performance". Zhao Cong and the South Korean KBS Symphony Orchestra performed "Flying Silk Road" to complete this performance with high quality and high standards, making art a bridge between Chinese and Korean cultures.

Invited by Yu Lei, the chief director of CCTV's large-scale cultural and museum exploration program "National Treasure", Zhao Cong participated in the recording of the first season of "National Treasure" in January 2018 and December 2018 respectively. "Water Dragon's Song", the broadcast volume of the program on Station B exceeded 20 million! The Weibo video has nearly 400 million views; served as the guardian of the national treasure in the second season and performed "Drunk Peace"; participated in the "National Treasure 8 Minutes" flash mob event at the Palace Museum on February 20, 2019.

Zhao Cong was commissioned by the Propaganda Department of Jilin Province to go to the world-famous Changbai Mountain to collect music, and composed the pipa concerto "Fuji Tianchang" with a strong Northeastern music style. The work premiered on April 8, 2018 in Japan, and then toured in Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea on April 10th and 13th.

On the evening of June 4, 2018, the "3rd Sino-Korean Cultural Celebrities Night" was held at the Chinese Embassy in South Korea in Seoul. Pipa player Zhao Cong and pianist Liu Xingchen performed "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night" ; On June 5, the first lady of South Korea attended the opening ceremony and welcomed the "Han Meilin Global Tour" to Seoul. Pianist Liu Xingchen and pipa player Zhao Cong*** performed "Blooming" together.

On June 19, 2018, it was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Gansu Province. Kyrgyzstan was the guest country, and was supported by the World Tourism Organization, the World Tourism Alliance, and the Asia-Pacific Travel Association. The unit's 8th Dunhuang Tour·Silk Road International Tourism Festival grandly opened in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province. Zhao Cong was invited to participate in the second movement of the large-scale symphony with the theme of "Silk Road and Great Wall Dialogue", "Flying Flowers", and "Flying Silk Road" was played in front of the Jiayuguan Gate Tower and received several rounds of applause.

At 19:30 pm on September 18, 2018, Vladivostok, Russia, in the local Mariinsky Theater, the "Perception" hosted by the State Council Information Office and the Jilin Provincial People's Government China - China Jilin Province Tourism Culture Week" event kicked off. The famous pipa player Zhao Cong joined hands with the famous conductor Liu Fengde and the Jilin Provincial National Orchestra to bring to Russian friends a large-scale pipa composed by Zhao Cong and orchestrated by Yin Tianhu. Concerto "Fortune".

In February 2019, he was invited by Director Shan Jixiang of the Palace Museum to participate in the Forbidden City - Shangyuan Night special performance event.

On June 5, 2019, at the celebration meeting and artistic performance of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Zhao Cong and the Russian grand piano player joined hands with the China National Traditional Orchestra to perform "Blooming" as the heads of state of China and Russia. Give a wonderful performance.

Works

Musical works

Books

Awards

Won the "Tianhua Cup" National Youth Award in 2004 "First Prize" in the Pipa Competition.

In October 2005, Zhao Cong personally designed the "Backpack Pipa" and obtained the "National Patent" granted by the State Intellectual Property Office. Her bold innovation broadened the way of playing the pipa, and this patent was used by director Zhang Yimou in the Chinese cultural program of the Olympic Games.

In August 2008, he was awarded the "Overseas Promotion Personal Contribution Award" by the Ministry of Culture, becoming the first performer to win this honor.

In March 2014, he obtained the "International World Music Performance Master" certification from the San Jose City Hall of Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, and was hired by the City of Arts City Hall as the San Jose International Arts Performer. Director of festival organizing committee.

In January 2015, he was invited by Harvard University, a world-renowned university, to give a lecture titled "Pipa New Language_ATalkon Chinese Traditional Music" at the Geological Museum at 12:30 on February 5, 2015, U.S. time. The "Lecture on Traditional Chinese Instruments" with the theme of "The Charm of Folk Music" launched a unique musical dialogue with Chinese students and foreign friends.

On April 18, 2015, Ms. Zhao Cong won the 2015 China Brand Women’s Culture and Art Art Performance Award.

In September 2015, Zhao Cong served as the 2015 "East Asian Cultural Exchange Envoy" and was appointed as the Korean Asian Cultural Celebration Promotion Ambassador.

On the afternoon of October 15, 2018, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism appointed pipa player Zhao Cong as deputy director of the Central Chinese Orchestra with a one-year probation period.

Concert

On May 12, 2013, Zhao Cong held his first solo concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts: "Pointing to the World—Zhao Cong and the Central Chinese Orchestra Pipa Music" "Meeting", Tian Qinxin, the famous drama director of the National Theater, is a cross-border director. This unprecedented feast of folk music caused a huge sensation throughout China and even the world's music scene, creating a new form of national instrumental music performance.

On March 15, 2014, an online concert with musicians from seven different regions around the world was held at Bing, a famous concert hall at Stanford University in the United States. Zhao Cong used a pipa to dialogue with world music, spread Chinese traditional culture, and conquered Western audiences.

In November 2014, he went to South Korea to hold the "Zhao Cong Korean Pipa Solo Concert".

In January 2015, the world-famous Harvard University specially invited the famous pipa player Zhao Cong to participate in the Harvard China Day lecture. The lecture was held at the Geological Museum at 12:30 on February 5, 2015, with the theme of "PipatheNewLanguage_ATalkonChineseTraditionalMusic (Pipa)" The "Lecture on Traditional Chinese Instruments" with the theme of "New Words_The famous pipa player Zhao Cong talks about the charm of folk music" launched a unique musical dialogue with Chinese students and foreign friends.

Zhao Cong’s solo concert was held on May 21, 2016 at the Theater of the San Idelfonso College in Mexico City.

On July 25-27, 2016, Zhao Cong held Zhao Cong’s pipa master class and special concert at the Poly WeDo Concert Hall.

From September 26 to October 5, 2017, at the invitation of the External Liaison Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Zhao Cong went to Italy and France to conduct a Chinese culture lecture "Chinese Story - The Rhythm and Myth of the Thousand Years of Music" "'s European tour, visiting the Conservatoire of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, the National Museum of Asian Art in France, the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris, and the Ecole Supérieure de Culture and Arts in Paris.

On April 21, 2018, the Shenzhen Nanshan Pop Music Festival hosted by the Nanshan District Government of Shenzhen City specially invited Zhao Cong to hold a special concert of "Pointing to the World" by Zhao Cong and her friends.

On December 8, 2018, at the closing concert of the 2018 China Changchun Chinese Music and Art Festival, Zhao Cong was invited by the Propaganda Department of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee to hold "The Most Beautiful Time" at the Changying Concert Hall in Changchun City. Special concert by Zhao Cong and her friends.

On February 24, 2019, Zhao Cong held a special concert to benefit the people - "The Most Beautiful Time" Zhao Cong and her friends at the Anhui Grand Theater.

Character evaluation

The media commented on her: "In the advancement of modern folk music, Zhao Cong has become a music practitioner who persistently walks between classical and modern music." Hans Nielsen, the famous international recording master and chairman of the "Sound of Asia" jury, commented that Zhao Cong is: "a top performer with first-class international performance standards."