Pipa player promotes ancient instrument with rare passion

Wu Yuxia has played thepipa for about 50 years.

Both of them have been learning the pipa with Wu since they were very young. Fan is now studying at the China Conservatory to be a professional pipa musician, while Zhang is pursuing his studies at Tsinghua University.

"They are good examples of how music changes lives. I want to show people that the instrument is full of color and not beyond reach," says Wu.

One of the main reasons why Wu is so keen on teaching young people is that she started learning pipa through a similar kind of program when she was 10.

Drawn to the sound of the instrument produced by her fingernails and the four strings, she surprised her parents and teachers with her musical talent.

With the encouragement of her father, who bought Wu her first pipa as a gift after she won a competition and became a member of a children's art troupe in Shanghai, Wu then concentrated on pursuing a career as a pipa player.

In 1977, Wu came to Beijing to study with pipa masters, including Wei Zuguang and Liu Dehai, at the Central Conservatory of Music and the Beijing Dance Academy.

As the principal pipa player at the China National Traditional Orchestra after her graduation, Wu performed at famous venues, including the Golden Hall in Vienna and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York.

Speaking about the versatility of the instrument, Wu says: "The pipa has a complete system in terms of performing and teaching. It can be used to perform a solo or in chamber music. It can be very quiet and very powerful at the same time."

Last year, Wu quit her job as the deputy-director of the China National Traditional Orchestra and started working at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, focusing on developing educational programs and promoting the instrument.

"I have hundreds of performances every year. But, from my experience, I want to ask our audiences not to stereotype the instrument," she says.

If you go

7:30 pm, Sunday. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing. 010-6559-8285.