Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Hailed as a musical pioneer - her fascinating journey began after the Cultural Revolution in China, a period where Western musical instruments and music were banned. Xuefei was the first-ever guitarist in China to enter a music school and became the first internationally recognized Chinese guitarist on the world stage. Her first public appearance was at the age of ten and received such acclaim that the Spanish Ambassador in China presented her with a concert guitar. Her debut in Madrid at the age of 14 was attended by the composer Joaquín Rodrigo and, when John Williams heard her play, he gave two of his own instruments to Beijing’s Central Conservatoire especially for her and other advanced students.

Xuefei was born in Beijing and is a graduate of Beijing’s Central Conservatoire of Music. She went on to become the first Chinese musician to receive a full scholarship for postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she received the Principal’s Prize on completion of her postgraduate study.

Her international success has led her to be invited to play in more than 50 countries at numerous prestigious and she is frequently invited to play with the world’s leading orchestras.

Gramophone magazine praised Xuefei as one of the leading innovators of her generation for continuing to build the guitar repertoire. She is committed to commissioning new works and making her own arrangements, with a particular interest in adding Chinese music and chamber music, many of which have appeared on her recordings.

Xuefei has made many albums, her first received a gold disc and her second was selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone magazine. Her latest solo album “Colours of Brazil,” and “Songs from our Ancestors” continues her successful collaboration with Ian Bostridge in a recording made at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

The UK classical music magazine, Classic FM, named Xuefei as one of the 100 top classical musicians of our time and as recognition of her distinguished career, she was awarded ‘Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music’ in London, U.K. where she is based.

Xuefei Yang's Website: http://www.xuefeiyang.com/