Leading virtuoso Zhang Qiang and prodigious pipa performer Liu Lu in concert

A special program of classic pipa works as well as new compositions by Sydney Conservatorium of Music (SCM) composers Damien Ricketson and Ivan Zavada will give audiences a rare chance to see mentor, Professor Zhang Qiang and student, Liu Lu perform together.

The pipa, sometimes called the Chinese lute, is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Its pear-shaped wooden body is played by hand and demands decades of study to master the techniques and fine aesthetic details.

Liu Lu, pipa lecturer at the SCM, has invited her mentor and teacher Professor Zhang Qiang from the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, to perform at this one-off special event. The concert celebrates the teacher-student relationship that is a crucial component of maintaining traditional Chinese musical culture.

A world-famous pipa virtuoso, Professor Zhang Qiang is director of the String Instrument Division of the Chinese Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (CCOM). In high demand by education institutions around the world, Professor Zhang is considered amongst the finest players of his generation. His playing embodies the spirit of this highly expressive instrument, and is a wonderful opportunity for musicians and audiences to appreciate the beauty of Chinese musical culture in both its ancient and contemporary dimensions.

“It’s a great way to reflect upon the intercultural space of Chinese and Australian based pipa players and composers by engaging this specific practice-based music research project,” says Liu Lu.

Classical music fans can witness for the first time in Australia the world-famous pipa virtuoso player and his highly talented student performing new compositions alongside classics from the pipa repertory.

Sunday 26 May, 2pm at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

This event is free and open to all but online registration is essential.