Guzheng Soloist
Ms. Li Ma, an internationally renowned Guzheng virtuoso, and winner of the Award of Excellent Performance in the 1995 Oriental Cup of National Juvenile Guzheng, is one of the youngest members of the China Musicians Association and the Chinese Folk Wind and String Instrument Association.
Following a long road of her gu zheng performances, Ms. Li Ma received praises for her talent from the highest circle of China's musical establishment. In her many solo performances in several venues across the United States, China and Europe, she consistently receives excellent reviews and awards.
In 1999 Li made her first debut in the Music Hall of the China Conservatory of Music, thus becoming the youngest member of the Chinese Young Artists Group, and then introducing Chinese Guzheng music in the Falun Folkmusic Festival in Sweden in 2000. In 2001 she participated in the recording of "Collection of Guzheng Master Music Pieces" in Beijing, China. In 2002 the "Rhythm of Fall" Guzheng Solo Concert was held successfully in Lincoln, Nebraska in the United States. Li was the first gu zheng virtuoso to introduce the instrument to the United States' Midwestern region. In 2003, Li participated in 'Chinese New Year Concert 2003' in Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, in Ohio. In March 2003, her first CD album--"Rhythm of Fall" was successfully published by POLO ARTS Entertainment Co.,LTD in Beijing, China. Meanwhile, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in New York City on May 26, 2003. In 2004 Li had return engagements, participating in the "2004'Chinese New Year Concert" in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio and the New Composition Concert in Carnegie Hall in New York.
Li also gave many workshops and lectures to Americans in many universities, including the State University of New York at New Paltz, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Arizona.
Born in Xi'An, China, Li began her guzheng studies with Qu Yun at the age of eight, and later studied with Yin Qun and Zhou Yanjia at the Xi'An Conservatory of Music. She continued her musical education with Qiu Dacheng and Lin Ling at the China Conservatory of Music, and with Zhou Wang at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China. After graduation from the China Conservatory of Music, she was a gu zheng director at the Beijing Contemporary Music Institute.