George Gao born in 1967, in Shanghai, China. He started his erhu studies at the age of six. A few years later, he won First Prize at the Shanghai Junior Instrumental Soloist Competition and a Silver Medal at the China National Junior Instrumental Soloist Contest in 1982. In 1985 he won the three highest prizes of the Beijing China National Invitational erhu Competition.
George Gao studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. After winning the first prize in the Beijing National Erhu Competition, George Gao launched on a truly international performing career. He toured the United States, Canada, France, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China extensively and was featured as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Taiwan National Chinese Orchestra, National Arts Center Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and I Musici.
George Gao is a reputable session player. His erhu performances are frequently recorded by many world renowned composers, film, and record producers. George is featured in the soundtrack for the popular science fiction television program Earth: Final Conflict.
An enthusiast of many musical styles, George organized the Beijing rock band Red Maple Leaf and the pop group Snowman. In Toronto, he collaborated with many artists including Jesse Cook, Donald Quan, Ron Korb and joined many world music ensembles such as Silk Orchestra, Earth Spirit Orchestra, George Gao Ensemble and Memento. He has pioneered the development of new music for the erhu, fusing traditional Chinese music with jazz, Western Classical music, New Age, and other ethnic music from different world cultures.
As a composer, George Gao has composed music for many films and documentaries. Recently, he co-composed with Brian Keane for Bill Moyer’s Productions/Lenon Documentary 3 part documentary film “Becoming American, the Chinese Experience”. He is also a songwriter who has a few hit songs in China. He has written many erhu works including Capriccio for Erhu, which was designated as compulsory work for the final round of the 2002 International Dragon Cup Erhu Competition.
Gao is the erhu instructor at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He is also a luthier, who invented the shaoqin, an erhu with a wider range.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
