Masters and Talents for Humanity

Miss Nancy Zhou teaches cello and piano. She studied music at University of Southern California, graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, OH. She has also earned a Master's Degree from Boston University in Performing Arts. Miss Zhou has performed with Pacific Music Festival In Japan, toured Europe and South America. She taught at Arlington Performing Arts High School and was a Teaching Assistant at University of Connecticut. She has over twenty years of experience in teaching music to children. She is currently a member of Chinese Music Teachers Association of Northern California.

Yongping Tian is the Executive Director, Artistic Director and ​Erhu Instructor at California Youth Chinese Symphony. Mr. Tian graduated with high honors from Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He then became an er-hu lecturer in the Conservatory for 15 years. In 1982, he won First Place in the China Erhu Competition in Southwest Region. In 1985, he received the Cultivator Award from Sichuan Musician Association for his accomplishments on music education. In 1986, he attended Sichuan Artists Troupe as an erhu soloist and visited Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Germany. Tian is very active in the performing stage of the Bay Area. In March 2002, he successfully performed the erhu concerto Butterfly Lovers with Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Orchestra. In 2006, he performed Autumn Reminiscence with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. For two years, Tian was also invited as a committee and judge for the Chinese Performing Artists of America (CPAA) International Folk Instrument Competition.

Wanpeng Guo is a former principal sheng soloist at the Chinese National Orchestra. Guo is a member of China Musician Association and Chinese National Orchestral Association. When studying sheng, guan-zi, and suo-na under the wind master Wu Zhongfu, he was a soloist in Beijing Youth Palace. At the age of 18, he entered the Chinee National Orchestra as first principal of the sheng section. In 1994, he attended Asian Orchestra formed by a group of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artists. In 2000, he was invited by Singapore Orchestra as a guest musician. He visited the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Denmark, and all Asian countries, played many solo programs, and made many recordings.

Mr. Shude Wu, is a famous Chinese Suona soloist, music producer. He was born in a Suona musicians family and studied at China Conservatory of Music, major in Suona and minor in composition. From August 1993, Mr. Shude Wu worked at National Orchestra of China Opera and Dance Drama Theater, as the principal player of Suona department. In the year 1998, he performed in the Great Hall of the People, for ex-President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton. In the year 1999, he performed Suona concerto Celebrating Victory at the Beijing TV New Year's Gala. He performed in Greece, Athena, and France and Thailand. In 2002, he joined ballet Raise The Red Lantern (directed by Zhang, Yimou) and tour performance to Hongkong and Macau. In August 2005, he joined Dayou Luo’s Beijing concert, as the guest Suona playing Barcarolla and Youth Dance. He is currently teaches at California Youth Chinese Symphony.

Hecheng Liu is an outstanding Pipa virtuoso of remarkable talent. Liu began his music training when he was five. At the age of 11, he was accepted by the Central Conservatory of Music of China – Junior Division, as a gifted student to study pipa with the famous pipa professor, Guanghua LI. From 1980 to 1984, Liu studied under the nationally acclaimed professor Chen, Zemin at the Department of Chinese instrument of Central Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he also studie Guqin under the well-known professor Li, Xiangting. Since his graduation in 1984, Liu has been teaching and performing both in China and abroad. As a soloist of the Chinese National Orchestra, Liu has performed in the United States, France, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Spain, Former Soviet, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hang Kong. He has won many national and international competitions in Pipa performances. He is often invited by universities, museums, and research institutes to lecture and perform. Liu was once featured by the Beijing Radio Broadcasting station, one of the largest radio stations in China, in a show entitled, “Liu, Hecheng Pipa performart”. Liu is one of the most renowned musicians in the Bay Area. The critic says “Liu’s music gracefully combines strength and emotion to touch his listeners’ heart and soul.”

Ms.Yang Hua is a young outstanding GuZheng soloist. A member of China Musician Association GuZheng Committee; also a member of China Nationalities Orchestra Society and Guang-Dong Province Musician Association. She started learning GuZheng by famous master Li, Sai Jun since she was eight years old. She graduated from South-China Normal University majored in Music. She was instructed by a famous Gu Zheng soloist and an educator, professor Chen, An Hua . In the past years, she received numerous competitions awards in China and was invited to perform in many different countries and states. In 2000, she held her GuZheng solo concert and vocal concert in Canton,China. She also has ample experience in teaching music. In the year of 2005 to 2007, she continues received recognition of being an outstanding instructor from China Flok Music Orchestra Society Examination Board. She was previous the GuZheng soloist by Guang-Dong National ensemble of Songs and Dances. Now, Ms.Yang is the instructor and soloist at the California Youth Chinese Symphony.

Paul Garofalo currently is a senior at Gunn High School. He has been playing the piano since the age of 4. During that time he was a music scholar in the Wellington International School in Shanghai. He attended CSMA when he returned to California at the age of 11, and was an A level Merit scholar there. He completed all the ABRSM grade levels for piano with distinction and was awarded the ABRSM level 4 Diploma in Piano Performance when he was 12. Paul attended some music summer camps in Wales and Shanghai, played piano concertos and enjoyed working chamber music with peers. He earned a wide array of awards for solo and concerto competitions. Currently he is a member of the Santa Clara chamber music senior group.