Cheng Yu is an internationally famous pipa and guqin virtuoso. At the age of 13 she won first prize in the National Youth Competition for the Performance of Traditional Instruments. She was trained at the Xi?an Conservatory of Music in pipa and guqin and was winner of the ?Outstanding Performer' award for pipa performance at the China Traditional Instruments Competition.

After graduating with distinction, she joined the Central Orchestra for Chinese Music in Beijing as a pipa soloist and has subsequently been elected Fellow of the Chinese Association of Musicians. In 2004 she completed her PhD in ethnomusicology (Chinese Music) at SOAS, University of London.

Since arriving in London she has performed over 600 concerts in the UK and internationally at venues including the Purcell Room, WOMAD, Edinburgh Festival and Duck?s Hall, has undertaken cross-genre collaborations, published three solo CDs, and takes commissions for film and TV recording.

The pipa (4-stringed fretted lute) and guqin (7-stringed fretless zither) are China?s most celebrated traditional instruments and each has a history of over 2,000 years. The pipa is famed for its powerful and contrasting expressions whilst the guqin has a gentle, refined and contemplative nature.

She is a member of the Silk String Quartet.

Official Web Site: www.ukchinesemusic.com

Cheng Yu & her 5-stringed pipa (Solo CD Album), England, SOASIS-07, 2006.

Cheng Yu, Masterpieces of pipa and qin music (Solo CD), China Arts, CA8099, 2005

Cheng Yu, Chinese Classical Pipa (solo CD album), ARC Distribution Ltd, EUCD-1176.

Youth Music Singbook (score with CD), Single Molihua arr. by Cheng Yu, Faber Music, 05.

Whisper of China ? Extreme Music. arranged by Cheng Yu, England 2004.

The Oriental Journey ? Music House, MHS-50, arr. by Cheng Yu, England, 2002.

Music from China (CD), arr. by Cheng Yu, Zomba Production Music, LC-8904, 2000.

Liushui ? Flowing Water (CD), arr. by Cheng Yu, SOASIS-02, London, 2000.

Oceans of the Heart (CD). Two solos, SOASIS-01, London, 2000.

Shanghai Noon (Film music CD), on pipa and guqin, Spyglass Entrainment Group, 2000.

Best of China and Japan, ARC Distribution Ltd. EUCD-1361, 1996.

Four CDs with WOMAD, Real World and Virgin Records, 1992, 1993 and 1995.

Cheng Yu, 'Xi'an Gugue - Xi'an Old Music in New China', PhD, Department of Music, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 2004

Cheng Yu, 'Cheng Yu and her 5-stringed Pipa', forthcoming, Ashgate

Shengmiao, S.W., 'Impresssions of a Pipa Player: Profiles of the World's Most Premier', Beaumont Publishing, Singapore, 2003 (featuring a chapter on Cheng Yu).