The festival comprises:

• A five-day summer school from 25 to 29 August (New: percussion classes 27 to 29 August)
• Two days (optional) Chinese music grading exams/competition 29 and 30 August
• A series of concerts in London, Telford and Oxford 25, 26 27, 29 and 30 August
• Guqin and Chinese Music yaji, SOAS, 30 August 1:30pm
• Masterclasses, workshops, and ensemble classes during the festival
• Calligraphy and Chinese chess (Go) 

Summer School - Monday 25 to Friday 29 August, SOAS 
(Main teaching time: 10am to 1pm, 2-5pm workshops,d ensemble etc.)

The five-day summer school features classes on the guqin 古琴 (7-stringed zither), guzheng 古筝(21-stringed zither), pipa 琵琶 lute, erhu二胡 fiddle, dizi 笛子 and xiao flutes 箫, Beijing Opera 京剧 and Kunqu opera 昆曲 singing and percussion music 打击乐 (27 to 29 August). This will be a rare opportunity for anyone in the UK and overseas interested in learning and understanding more about traditional Chinese music and instruments.

The summer school will combine group classes, one-to-one tuition, masterclasses, talks and workshops. It will be open to participants with little or no experience as well as to those at higher levels. An exciting new addition this year will be an energetic Chinese drumming and percussion class. Our tutors all have Masters’ or higher degrees in music and many years of teaching experience. At the end of the summer school all our students will have the opportunity to perform alongside some of our tutors. Students are encouraged to bring their own instruments. We do, however, have a limited number of instruments for hire or purchase and would encourage you to enquire regarding availability. We will offer two new classes this year:

Introduction to Chinese Opera Singing – taught by Wang Wei
- Beijing and Kunqu Opera 京剧 & 昆曲清唱

Beijing Opera 京剧 and Kunqu Opera 昆曲 are both recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage and represent the quintessential art forms of traditional Chinese stage performance. In this five-day (mornings) summer programme during the festival, you will learn the traditional Kunqu classic aria “Zaoluopao” 皂龙袍 and the widely celebrated Peking Opera excerpt “Mu Guiying Takes Command” 穆桂英挂帅’’. Each aria will be studied over two days, with a demonstration show on the last day of the course.

Percussion classes (27– 29 August)
- taught by Micheal Skelton

These classes offers a range of aspects of Chinese percussion from ensemble drumming pieces to introductions to several regional styles of percussion music, as well as sharing more about the backgrounds of each style and teaching the students to speak and understand the “singing score” of Chinese percussion, luogu jing 锣鼓经. (Instruments will be provided). At the end of the course, students can choose to play at the demonstration session to all summer school attendees.   

Concert Series
• 25 August, 6pm: Concert and workshop at CulturalKind Chinese Community, Telford, TF3 3BB, Shropshire (tbc)
• 27 August, 7pm: “Echoes of Nature” Gala Concert. BGLT, SOAS, Uni. of London WC1H OXG.
• 26 August, 7pm: Sound of Silk and Bamboo Concert, Oxford (tbc.)
• 29 August, 7pm: China-West Soundscape, St. Marylebone Church, London NW1 5LT
• 30 August, 7pm: Showcase Concert featuring student musicians, Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), SOAS, London WC1H OXG 

One of the highlights is our two contrasting London concerts Echo of Nature and China-West Soundscape. The former focuses on China’s traditional "intangible cultural heritage" (UNESCO), showcasing Kunqu Opera, guqin, Sizhu Silk & Bamboo and Sixian Silk String music whilst the latter is a journey of Chinese-Western musical exploration. We also have the pleasure of featuring the Silk Road Dulcimer Ensemble (丝路秦韵) from Xi’an, China.   

List of Musicians / Artists:

International Musicians / Artists
• Prof. Zhao Xinzhi (yangqin dulcimer master, Xi’an Conservatory China),
• Li Pengpeng (guqin master, Germany) – teaching advanced level guqin
• Ray Lin (composer/conductor, Australia)
• Chen Yi-Chuan (conductor/wind instruments player, (Royal College of Music)
• Prof. Li Xinyan (composer, Bard College Conservatory of Music, USA)

UK Musician / Artists
• Dr Cheng Yu – pipa lute and guqin player and festival director
• Yang Kang – guzheng and baritone
• Ji Mengdie – guzheng player
• Zhang Jiaqi – guqin and zhongruan player
• Jenny Zhao / Elaine Yu – guqin
• Huang Ziyang – erhu player Lu Zongpu – wind instruments (dizi, xiao flutes)
• Dennis Lee – xiao and xun wind instruments
• Michael Skelton – Chinese drumming/percussion classes
• Wang Wei – Beijing Opera/Kun Opera/Folk Song singer
• Azalea Qin Lei – Calligrapher
• Li Siqian – pianist Laure Chan – violinist
• Adrian Wang – violinist
• Musicians from the UK Chinese Music Ensemble and New Elements Music

Chinese Music Grading Exams and Competition
– 29 to 30 August, SOAS, University of London, WC1H OXG

We offer students the opportunity to take a grading exam recognised in both China and the UK and to participate in a music competition. The grading is made possible through a partnership between China’s leading authority, China Nationality Orchestra Society (CNOS) and SOAS, University of London. Several participants achieved excellent results, and their grades were accepted and recognised by UK universities and schools.

Exams and competitions (divided into youth and adult groups) include all types of traditional Chinese instruments: guqin, guzheng, pipa, liuqin, yangqin, erhu, dizi, xiao, sheng, suona, hulusi, singing, drumming/percussion instruments and ensemble/group performances.  

Masterclasses and Workshops

• Flutes workshop – Lu Zongpu/Dennis Lee: 2 to 3.30pm, 25 August
• Guzheng zither Workshop – Yang Kang/Ji Mengdie, 2 to 3.30pm, 26 August
• Yangqin dulcimer masterclass – Prof. Zhao Xinzhi, 2 to 3.30pm, 27 August
• Erhu Workshop – Prof. Chen Dacan/Huang Ziyang, 2 to 3.30pm, 28 August
• Guqin zither masterclass – Li Pengpeng/Zhu Wencheng, 2 to 3.30pm 29 August
• Beijing and Kunqu Opera workshop – Wang Wei, 10.30am to 12.30pm, 30 August    

“Experiencing Traditional Chinese Theatre Arts: Beijing Opera and Kunqu Opera”
This workshop introduces the development history of China’s traditional national performing arts — Beijing Opera and Kunqu Opera. It will cover the vocal styles and performance characteristics of Chinese opera, explore the similarities and differences between Chinese opera, Western opera, and musicals, and finally, participants will enjoy live performances and have the opportunity to try on traditional theatre costumes and take photos.

Workshops are free for attendees who have signed up for the festival and for community music project leaders in the UK (need to email us on info@ukchinesemusic.com from your community by 24 August).


Supplementary classes
• Instrumental ensemble classes (Grade 4 and above) – 3.45 to 5pm (26 to 29 August)
    with Prof. Chen Dacan, Zhang Jiaqi, Lu Zongpu and all available tutors.
• Calligraphy –  Azalea Qin Lei, 28 August, 3.45 to 5.15pm
• Chinese Chess (Go) – Lunchtime leisure activity (25 to 29 August).

  
Yaji Gathering – Guqin and Chinese Music (Free, open to public)
1:30-4pm 30 August, Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), SOAS, London WC1H OXG

A special yaji to celebrate Chinese music. The yaji will provide all Festival participants with a chance to interact, share experiences and perform in an informal and relaxed setting.

Download the exam and competition guidelines here.
Download the festival registration form here.

We reserve the right to adjust the schedule, venues and personnel due to unforeseen circumstances.