Gao Hong
Education & Professional History
Central Conservatory of Music (中央音乐学院), BA
Gao Hong graduated with honors from Beijing’s prestigious Central Conservatory of Music, where she studied under the great pipa master Lin Shicheng. Since moving to the United States, she has performed at renowned venues and festivals, including the Lincoln Center Festival, Carnegie Hall, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian, and festivals in Paris, Caen, Milan, Perth, Lisbon, Zaragoza, and Ronda, Spain, as well as numerous locations across China.
In 2024, she recorded four original pipa concertos at Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and performed as a soloist with the South Netherlands Philharmonic. A video from those performances went viral, garnering over 6 million views on Instagram and an astounding 900 million views across Chinese platforms. That same year, she was honored with the International Cultural Role Model Award by the United Nations World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation and featured on postage stamps in four countries. Her bilingual children’s book, The Chirps in Gao Hong’s Pipa, inspired by her childhood, was also published in 2024.
Gao Hong has presented pipa concertos with distinguished ensembles, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Heidelberg Philharmonic, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, Louisville Orchestra, Women’s Philharmonic (San Francisco), Hawaii Symphony, Portland Symphony, China National Traditional Orchestra, Guangdong National Traditional Orchestra, Beijing National Orchestra, and Orchestra Now (at Lincoln Center in NYC). In 2017, she became the first Chinese musician to play the National Anthem at an NBA game, performing on the pipa for the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.
Gao has received numerous prestigious awards in China and the U.S. In 2005, she became the first traditional musician to receive a Bush Artist Fellowship, and in 2019, she became the only musician of any genre to win five McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians. She was also honored with the Sally Award at the Ordway Center for her dedication to the arts. Additionally, she authored the first pipa method book in English, published and distributed globally by Hal Leonard.
Five of Gao Hong’s consecutive recordings have earned gold medals from the Global Music Awards. These include collaborations with her late teacher Lin Shicheng, Syrian oudist Issam Rafea, Senegalese kora player Kadialy Kouyate, flamenco guitarist Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde, and guqin master Zhao Xiaoxia. Her duo video with Issam Rafea was selected out of over 3,000 entries by indie star Phoebe Bridgers to appear on NPR’s Tiny Desk Top Shelf Contest #2 episode.
As a sought-after chamber musician, Gao Hong has performed at ChamberFest Cleveland, Yellow Barn Music Festival, Carolina Chamber Music Festival, Harbin Summer Music Festival, Ashkenaz Festival (Toronto), Pittsburgh Early Music Festival, Bridge Chamber Music Festival, and the Open Space New Music Festival. She has also collaborated with ensembles like the Bakken Ensemble, ProMusica Minnesota, and the Bach Society of Minnesota.
As a composer, Gao has received commissions from notable organizations, including the Minnesota Orchestra, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, American Composers Forum, Minnesota Sinfonia, Walker Art Center, Zeitgeist, Ragamala Dance Theater, Theater Mu, and TPT-PBS, among others.
In 2022, Mayor Melvin Carter proclaimed April 3rd as “Gao Hong Day” in the City of St. Paul in honor of her milestone concert at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating her “50 Years of Making Music with Friends.” Several pieces from the concert were featured on Performance Today, hosted by Fred Child on American Public Media.
China’s foremost music publication, People’s Music, praised Gao Hong as “the best of all beautiful flowers… her performance has extremely strong artistic appeal and belongs in the category of ‘fine wine’… the more you listen, the more beautiful it gets.”
“For over 50 years, Gao Hong’s music has inspired and moved countless people around the globe. As one of the premier pipa players in the world, Gao Hong’s illustrious career is filled with accomplishments as a musician, composer, and educator.” – Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator
At Carleton since 2001.
Highlights & Recent Activity
Awards, Honors, Commissions – Partial Listing
2025:
– Cultural Expression grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Individual Artist & Culture Bearer Grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
– Named the very first “Distinguished Master” in a new program series on Guangdong Television Station, Guangzhou, China
– Album release: Prelude to the Divine Realm (pipa and guqin, with Zhao Xiaoxia) on Naxos World
– Album release: Neelam (pipa and sitar, with Baluji Shrivastav OBE) on ARC Music (U.K.)
– Invited speaker for Grammy U and the Recording Academy’s Chicago/Midwest Chapter Songwriters & Composers Wing Craft Sessions
– Commission from the Minnesota Orchestra
– Commission from the Newfound Chamber Winds
– Commission from the LADYBAND
– Commission from the University of Texas Wind Ensemble
2024:
– Recorded four my original pipa concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in the U.K.
– Named “International Cultural Role Model” by UN World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation;
– Awarded Arts Experiences grant (Minnesota State Arts Board) and Established Artist grant (SEMAC);
– Commissioned work premiered by The President’s Own U.S. Marine Band at American Bandmasters Convention, Washington D.C.
– Alondra (Skylark) album (with flamenco guitarist Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde) won two Gold Medals from the Global Music Awards;
– Chosen as National Endowment for the Arts panelist.
– Awarded “International Cultural Role Models” by United Nations World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation, European Philatelic Association, China International Cultural and Art Development Exchange Center, Shanshui Danqing (Beijing) International Art Center, and Art Finance Magazine
– Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble’s performance featured at Time Square in New York City.
– Arts Experiences grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Individual Artist Grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
– World premiere of new work commissioned and performed by the President’s Own United States Marine Band at the American Bandmaster Association Convention in Washington D.C.
– 2nd year as Recording Academy’s (Grammy’s) Chicago/Midwest Chapter Board Governor
– 2nd year as Recording Academy’s (Grammy’s) Chicago/Midwest Chapter Songwriters & Composers Committee Co-Chair
– “Alondra (Skylark)” album – recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London by Gao Hong and Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde – was released by ARC Music in the U.K and won two gold medals from the Global Music Award
– Selected as a Year Around Recording Academy (Grammys) GRAMMY U Mentor
– Selected as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts
– Featured on an extended interview for “Performance Today” and “New Classical Tracks” by American Public Media and Classical MPR
– Soloist with the South Netherlands Philharmonic (philharmonie zuidnederland)
– Residency as composer/educator/performer at Woodstock High School in IL as part of the Recording Academy’s (Grammy’s) “Music in Our Schools” program
2023
– Toured with Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble at festivals in Spain sponsored by UNESCO
– Toured and lectured in 11 Chinese universities
– Appointed Recording Academy’s (Grammy’s) Chicago/Midwest Chapter Board Governor
– Appointed Recording Academy’s (Grammy’s) Chicago/Midwest Chapter Songwriters & Composers Committee Co-Chair
– Selected as a Recording Academy (Grammys) GRAMMY U Mentor
– Selected to be a Recording Academy’s Chicago Chapter/Midwest “DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)” committee
– Asian Fusion: Gao Hong and Friends concert featuring master musicians from China, Japan, Vietnam, Syria and Venezuela awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Metropolitan Region Arts Council
– USArtists International grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
– Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– “Terri Kunda” (House of Friendship) CD was listed on the “Top of the World” by the Songlines Magazine in the UK.
2022
– Mayor Melvin Carter of Minnesota’s capital city proclaimed April 3, 2022 to be “Gao Hong Day” in the City of St. Paul.
– Commission from the Minnesota Orchestra
– Commission from the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis
– Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Elected to be an advisor to the board of the Recording Academy’s Chicago Chapter
– Selected to be a committee member of the “Songwriters and Composers Wing” of the Recording Academy’s Chicago Chapter/Midwest
– A new short film produced by Minnesota Orchestra’s Ashleigh Rowe and Gao Hong has been nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy Award in the Short Form Content division of the Arts & Entertainment category. The short film is titled “Gao Hong: Composer and Pipa Player.”
– Terri Kunda (House of Friendship) CD awarded Gold Medals in two categories by the 2022 Global Music Awards – Best Duo and Instrumentals
2021
– Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Individual Artist Grant from Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
– Commission from the Minnesota Sinfonia
– Commission from the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra
– “Whispering Under the Moon” recording with Issam Rafea was awarded the “Outstanding Prize” in the first international Huawei Music competition in China
– Commission from the Central Conservatory of Music Beijing, China
– Awarded an “Excellent Teacher Award” from the Dunhuang Cup Chamber Music International Music Competition
2020
– Hunting Eagles Catching Swans – Album of Pudong Pipa music by Master Lin Shicheng and Gao Hong – Awarded Gold Medals in two categories by the 2020 Global Music Awards – Album and Instrumentals
– From Our World to Yours – Awarded Gold Medals in two categories by the 2020 Global Music Awards
Album and Instrumentals
– Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Arts Tour Minnesota grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– USArtists International grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
– Appointed a voting member of the Grammys by the Recording Academy
– Awarded an “Excellent Teacher Award” from the Chinese Bridge · Global Music International Music Talent Video Competition.
2019
– Winner of the 2019-2020 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians
– Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2018
– Received a Sally Award for Commitment from the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
– Student-Faculty Fellows Program from ASIANetwork funded by the Freeman Foundation
– USArtists International grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
– Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Honored Guest Professor Title from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing
– Honored Guest Professor Title from the Hebei Provincial School for the Arts in China
– Outstanding Teacher Award from the Third Season of the Liaoyuan Cup Pipa Competition in Beijing
– Life As Is – Awarded a Silver Medal Outstanding Album Award by the 2018 Global Music Awards
2017
– Arts Tour Minnesota grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Established Artist grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC)
2016
– Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Arts Tour Minnesota grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB
– USArtists International grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
– Pipa Potluck – Lutes Around the World – Winner of a 2016 Global Music Award Silver Medal – Outstanding Album Award
– Gao Hong’s composition “Green Willow Tree” won a Global Music Award Silver Medal – Outstanding Achievement for Instrumental Music
– Honored Guest Professor Title from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in Tianjin, China
2015
– Arts Learning Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2014
– Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– 416 Club Commission from The Cedar and Jerome Foundation
– Co-commissioned by Minneapolis Pops Orchestra and Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra
2013
– Sorel Medallion in Recording grant from Sorel Charitable Organization, Inc. (NYC)
– Student-Faculty Fellows Program from ASIANetwork, Freeman Foundation
– Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2012
– Global Music Award Gold Medal – Award of Excellence for “Flying Dragon” composition
– McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians
– Arts Tour Minnesota grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Folk and Traditional Arts grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Commissioned by the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet
– Commissioned by clarinetist Dr. Jun Qian
2011
– Arts Learning grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– USArtists International Grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
2010
– Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Arts Learning grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Student-Faculty Fellows Program from ASIANetwork, funded by the Freeman Foundation
– Subito award from the American Composers Forum
2009
– Global Connections grant from Meet the Composer Inc. (NYC)
– USArtists International Grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (Baltimore)
2008
– Jerome Foundation Emerging Composer Commission
– Commissioned by Zeitgeist
– Commissioned by Danish guitarist Lars Hannibal for a piece for pipa and guitar
– McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians
– MetLife Creative Connections grant from Meet the Composer Inc. (NYC)
– Subito Grant from the American Composers Forum
2007
– St Paul Listens Grant from the American Composers Forum
– Winner of the American Composers Forum’s Essentially Choral Program with VocalEssence
– MetLife Creative Connections Grant from Meet the Composer Inc. (NYC)
– Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
2006
– Creative Connections Grant from Meet the Composer Inc. (NYC)
– Encore award from the American Composers Forum
2005
– Subito grant from the American Composers Forum
– Creative Connections grant from Meet the Composer Inc. (NYC)
– Jerome Foundation Emerging Composer Commission
2004
– Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– Bush Fellowship for Folk and Traditional Arts
2003
– Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
2002
– Jerome Foundation Emerging Composer Commission
– Commissioned by Walker Art Center
2001
– Commissioned by Ragamala Music and Dance Theater
– McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians
2000
– Commissioned by Twin Cities Public Television to compose music for the six-episode series “Made in China”
– Commissioned by Theater Mu
– Awarded LIN (Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods) grant from The St. Paul Companies
1998
– American Composers Forum Performance Incentive Fund
– Commissioned by Ragamala Music and Dance Theater
1997
– Artist Assistance Fellowship from the Minnesota State Arts Board
– McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians
– CPA award from the American Composers Forum
– Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
– Asian-Pacific Award from Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans
1996
– Received funding through Walker Arts Center Community Partnership
1990
– Awarded International Art Cup in Beijing
1984
– 1st Prize in the Hebei Professional Young Music Performers Competition
Organizations & Scholarly Affiliations
Gao Hong has served on the Board of Governors for the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Recording Academy and as a committee member of the Songwriters and Composers Wing, DREAM, and MusiCares. She has also served on the boards of the American Composers Forum and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy for the Grammys. In addition, she is a Guest Professor at several conservatories in China, including the Central Conservatory of Music and the China Conservatory.
Current Courses
-
Fall 2025
MUSE 188: Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble
-
MUSL 182: Chinese Musical Instruments
-
MUSL 282: Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
-
MUSL 382: Recital Chinese Musical Instruments
-
Spring 2026
MUSE 188: Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble
-
MUSL 182: Chinese Musical Instruments
-
MUSL 282: Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
-
MUSL 382: Recital Chinese Musical Instruments