Biography
Born in China, Shao Rong (shaw-oh) resides in Japan and specializes in the pipa (pee-pah), the traditional four-string Chinese lute. Piano study began for her at age five, followed by lute instruction at ten. While in her second year of junior high, she auditioned for the newly founded Beijing National Central Music Institute and ranked among the five successful candidates selected from 20,000 applicants. At the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing she trained on the pipa with Liu Dehai, the instrument’s acknowledged master. After receiving her college degree in 1987 she returned to Shanghai and entered the National Folk Music Band in the role of featured soloist. Relocating to Japan in 1989, she enrolled at Tokyo National University and stayed in the country following graduation. In 1998 she became a member of Tempyo-Gafu, an ensemble devoted to ancient Asian music, and took part in its U.S. tour. July 1998 brought a solo engagement with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and April 1999 a further appearance with the Sapporo Symphony. International notice followed her performance at the Pan Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo that July. Under contract with Pacific Moon Records she issued her first solo album, Orchid, in the United States in January 2001.
Albums
