Gao Ping

Gao Ping is a composer-pianist, born in Chengdu, Sichuan province of China. He studied in the USA in the 1990’s. In demand as a composer, he has received commissions and performances from musicians around the world. Many prestigious venues have presented his work such as the Aspen Music Festival, Dresdener Musikfestspiele, Hibiki Hall Festival (Japan), New Zealand International Arts Festival (Wellington), and the Beijing-Modern International Music Festival.
As a pianist, Gao Ping’s repertoire is extensive; he has performed to acclaim all over the world. In 2008, Gao Ping premiered his Piano Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Kenneth Young. The Listener enthusiastically acclaimed the two-movement work as “a major concerto”.
Gao Ping’s two albums released on Naxos label were critically acclaimed and was as “music which wants to be heard with ears of a child, full of wonder and amazement…. deep and vulnerable.”
Gao is currently a Professor in Composition at the Conservatory of Music-Capital Normal University as well as a guest professor at the China Conservatory of Music. He previously taught at the Canterbury University in New Zealand.

A longtime friend of Free Theatre, Gao Ping was artist-in-residence along with Hamish McKeich for The Mauricio Kagel Project - the next phase of this collaboration is Ars Acustica.