As most of the concert audience, we can hardly observe the conductors from their front. Even for the musicians on stage, the off-podium life of the conductors is often veiled under obscurity. Therefore, the Conducting Division of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen launches the series seminar "Meet the Maestro," which unfolds the conductor's real mind, decision, and philosophy to us from multiple perspectives, by featuring guest conductors of diverse fields to deliver masterclass, lectures, rehearsals, or other forms of sharing sessions.

Since the launch of the "Meet the Maestro" academic event, in-depth artistic dialogues have been conducted with ten well-known conducting educators. The first ten sessions featured face-to-face exchanges with Professors Wu Lingfen, Xu Zhilian, Cai Minde, Christian Ehwald, Jin Ye, Lin Daye, Fanny, Zhu Qiyuan, Yang Youqing, and conductor Ng Wilson, exploring and studying the art of conducting through numerous historical masterpieces, ranging from choral works to symphonic compositions.

For the upcoming eleventh session of "Meet the Maestro" on March 20th, the Conducting Division of the School has invited Professor Yang Li from the Central Conservatory of Music to visit the School of Music and provide hands-on conducting teaching. A set of four symphonic works will be conducted by three master students and one undergraduate student, who will be offered an opportunity to engage in music conversation on the podium and receive Prof. Yang Li's guidance. This session promises to explore deeper insights into the conducting profession through Professor Yang's extensive stage experience and unique musical perspectives. Additionally, the interactive teaching between the guest conductor and students across different symphonic works will provide the audience with an opportunity to experience the unparalleled charm of classical music.

【Date&Time】

Mar. 20, 2025 (Thur.) 9:30AM

【Venue】

Auditorium 364, Teaching Building

School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen

【Speaker】

Prof. Li YANG

【Collaborative Pianists】

Jie SONG, Xiaoyu XU, Mo HAN, Yi LIU

【节Programme】

MAURICE RAVEL (1875–1937)

Mother Goose Suite

Pengzheng CAO, (Class of 2025, PG), conductor

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828)

Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759

Xi WANG (Class of 2026, PG), conductor

GEORGES BIZET (1838–1875)

L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1

Huayu CHENG (Class of 2028, UG), conductor

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)

Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98

Qidi LIU (Class of 2026, PG), conductor

*Programme is subject to change.

Admission Free.

Visitors are requested to scan the QR code for registration.

Li YANG

Yang Li is a Professor of Conducting at the Central Conservatory of Music, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Quancheng Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Beijing Philharmonic Choir.

Yang Li has led successful performances with many symphony orchestras at home and abroad, including but not limited to the Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra of Germany, Southwest German Chamber Orchestra of Germany, Reutlingen Philharmonic Orchestra of Germany, Goyr Philharmonic Orchestra of Hungary, Southern California Symphony Orchestra, Lowa City (US) Symphony Orchestra, Masan City Symphony Orchestra of South Korea, Sochi Festival Orchestra of Russia, China Philharmonic Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, China National Opera House, Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.; and has performed in many countries and regions in Europe, America, and Asia.

He has been invited to participate in many music festivals around the world, such as the Stuttgart International Bach Festival in Germany, Eugene International Bach Music in the United States Festival, Macao International Music Festival, Beijing International Music Festival, Beijing International Modern Music Festival, and the 1999 Moscow Young Talent Music Festival commemorating Alexander Pushkin's 200th birthday.

In 1998, he became a faculty member at the Central Conservatory of Music. From 2003 to 2006, he concurrently served as the music director and chief conductor of the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra and led the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra to complete tours in Japan and South Korea.

Yang Li is also an avid promoter of modern Chinese music. In February 1998, he conducted the original opera "General Shelen," which won the "Wenhua Special Award" of the Ministry of Culture and the "Five-One-Project Special Award" of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee for his excellent performance.

In the past 20 years, Yang Li has also accomplished numerous achievements in the chorus field. The Beijing Philharmonic Choir he directs has won over 40 awards in 18 different international competitions while collecting three Best Conductor awards for himself: the Busan Choral Festival and Competition 2006; "The Singing World" (the 7th International Choir and Vocal Ensemble Competition in St. Petersburg in 2011; and the 54th Seghizzi Choral Singing Competition in Italy, 2015.

In recent years, Yang Li was frequently invited to serve as an international judge in many important choral competitions, including the 2007 Busan International Choral Competition; the 61st Japanese Choral Competition 2008; the 7th, the 8th, and the 9th World Choir Competition held in Cincinnati, United States in 2012, in Riga, Latvia in 2014, and in Sochi, Russia in 2016; the 55th Seghizzi Choral Singing Competition in 2016, Italy; the 10th World Choir Competition in Zneva, South Africa; the World Choral Conducting Competition 2019 in Hong Kong SAR; The "Leonardo Da Vinci" International Choral Festival in 2010, Italy(Online); and the 24th China International Chorus Festival in 2020, Beijing(Online).

In 1990, Yang Li graduated from the Conducting Department of the Central Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Professor Xu Xin. In 1992, he went to Staatliche Hochschule fuer Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart in Germany to further study under the tutelage of the renowned Professor Thomas Ungar. In 1997, he obtained the "Artist Diploma" certificate from the school. During his study in Germany, he became the first Chinese musician recipient of the "H. von Karajan Foundation scholarship."

Yang Li also focuses on academic research while teaching and his concert performances. In 2016, his monograph "Modern Conducting Techniques" was published by the Central Conservatory of Music.