Guan Xia
Director
China National Symphony Orchestra

Guan Xia, renowned Chinese composer, born in 1957, graduated from the China Central Conservatory of Music in 1985. Before graduating, he has already won the second award for his “String Quartet No. 1” in the 4th China National Composition Contest and the second prize for his work “Cello Rhapsody” in the Alexander Tcherepnin Composition Competition in the United States.

In the 90’s of last century, Guan Xia has composed music for a great number of TV series, including “Fortress Besieged” and “ I love My Family”, which are well-known and quite popular with audience. In recent years, Guan Xia’s full length Scenic Symphony “Mulan Psalm”, Chinese national opera “Sorrowful Morning” and music of TV series Passionate Years have been highly acclaimed by people from all sectors of society. Symphony Overture No.1 by Guan, based on the theme of Passionate Years, has become part of the repertoire of many symphony orchestras both at home and abroad.

On 18th September of 2005, Guan Xia’s full length Scenic Symphony “Mulan Psalm” was staged at the Lincoln Center of New York with great success. The mainstream and the music critics of America showed great interest in this work, which included Mr. Joshua Cheek, renowned Juror of the Grammy Awards. To acknowledge his achievements, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts presented Guan Xia “The Best Artist Award”. Mulan Psalm was then successfully performed in the People’s Hall on 22nd December of 2006 by Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra with tenor Michael Austin from Metropolitan Opera House, Chinese renowned soprano Peng Liyuan, tenor Dai Yuqiang, under the baton of Maestro Michael Helmrath. It was the first time Chinese opera being presented by foreign musician with Chinese language.

Guan Xia composed The Fantasies Symphoniques: Farewell My Concubine in 2005. It was world premiered in the United States of America during the China National Symphony Orchestra’s Tour to America in May 2006. And as a major part of the repertoire for the concert, it was performed in six cities, including the Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center of New York and Strathmore Music Center in Maryland, Boston Symphony Hall, and Chicago Symphony Hall. Renowned music critic Bernard Holland for the New York Times in his Review ‘Sounds of Two Hemispheres In a Tentative Peace Treaty’ and Mr. Tim Page, famous music critic of the Washington Post in his review ‘A Most Welcome Overture from China’ both gave a high appraisal for this piece. For the success of The Fantasies Symphoniques: Farewell My Concubine and the China National Symphony Orchestra, Guan Xia was awarded Governor’s Citation of the State of Maryland by Governor Robert Ehrlich. On 17th November of 2006 and 6th November of 2007, at the Opening Ceremony of China Festival in Japan and the Closing Ceremony of China Year in Russia held in Kremlin Theatre, The Fantasies Symphoniques: Farewell My Concubine were premiered in Tokyo and Moscow, it stirred the audience in both countries.

Guan Xia has composed dozens of songs, among which Ode to the Public Servant won Gold Medal of the Outstanding Composition Award at the All China Vocal Music Competition. His songs Toast to the Motherland and Step into the Spring both won the first prize at the National New Composition Competition sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. As one of the designers, the music director, composer and producer, Guan joined the production of dozens of national gala shows.

Guan Xia had been the Director of the Opera Company of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre, and the Vice Director of the China Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble. At present, Guan is the Director of the China National Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Guan is now the member of Artistic Committee of Grand National Theater, Vice President of the China Young Musicians Association, and Deputy Director of the Creation Committee of the China Musicians Association.