Gao has lived in the United States since 1994. She performs traditional and modern Chinese music, with her groups Spirit of Nature and Beijing Trio (a different group from the Beijing Trio which includes Max Roach, Jon Jang, and Jiebing Chen). She has also participated in cross-cultural musical collaborations, performing with jazz musicians and musicians from other cultures, including James Newton and Shubhendra Rao.
She is a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where she studied with the pipa master Lin Shicheng, of the Pudong School of pipa playing. She later became a pipa soloist for the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe.
Flying dragon concerto composed performed by gao hong with st olaf orchestra
Early life
During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Gao Hong's father was sent to a rural area of China, due to his criticism of the Mao Zedong and the Chinese government. Her mother, being highly concerned about her future, took her to a fortune teller at age 6 to find out what her future would be like. The fortune teller told her that she would be a "flying dragon" (a Chinese nickname given to people who travel all over and never settle down, which is also the name of one of her compositions). When she was 12 years old she became a professional pipa player and was already traveling throughout China to perform in concerts and different shows.
Move to the United States
In 1994 Gao gave a 10-city tour of the United States and eventually settled in Minnesota. She is currently on the music faculty of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she teaches Chinese instruments and is the director of Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble. She lives with her husband and daughter in Northfield, Minnesota.
Discography
Hunting Eagles Catching Swans - Music for Chinese pipa featuring pipa master Lin Shicheng & Gao Hong
Hui/Gathering - Belladonna Baroque Quartet and Gao Hong
Flying Dragon - Gao Hong and Friends around world
Buddhist Temple Music from Beijing - The Beijing Trio.
First Word" - Speaking In Tongues
The Spirit of Nature
A Peacock Southeast Flew - Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra
Quiet Forest, Flowing Stream”- New Chinese Pipa Music by Gao Hong
"Pipa Potluck - Lutes Around the World" - Gao Hong is joined by an all-star cast of musicians that includes two Grammy winners and master performers on the oud, slack key guitar, banjo, classical guitar and others.
Book
Chinese Pipa Method - published 2016 by Hal Leonard
1984
First Prize in Hebei Professional Young Music Performers Competition
1989
Awarded International Art Cup (Beijing)
1996
Received funding through Walker Art Center Community Partnership Fund for performances with Western orchestras and educational workshops administered by International Friendship Through the Performing Arts
Received funding from the American Composers Forum's Performance Incentive Fund
Included in The Dictionary of Contemporary Music Notables
Featured in the book Famous People From Henan Province
1997
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians
Artist Assistance Fellowship from Minnesota State Arts Board
Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
Asian-Pacific Award from Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans
Composers Commissioning Program Award from American Composers Forum
1998
Received funding from the American Composers Forum's Performance Incentive Fund
Included in Peoples' Publishing's Dictionary of Chinese Musicians
2000
LIN (Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods) Grant from The St. Paul Companies
Commission from Twin Cities Public Television to compose and perform on the soundtrack of six-episode series Made In China.
Commission from Theater Mu to compose music for play Song of the Pipa, based on Gao Hong's own life story and the life of Bai Juyi.
2001
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians
Commission from Ragamala Music and Dance Theater for Transposed Heads.
2002
Commission from Walker Art Center for new works for "Gao Hong and Friends Around the World" concert.
Emerging Composer Commission from the Jerome Foundation.
2003
Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
2004
Bush Artist Fellowship for Traditional and Folk Arts
Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2005
Creative Connections (formerly The Meet The Composer Fund) from Meet The Composer Inc. in New York.
Emerging Composer Commission from the Jerome Foundation.
Subito award from the American Composers Forum
2006
Creative Connections award from the Meet The Composer Inc. in New York.
Encore award from the American Composers Forum
2007
The St Paul Listens from the American Composers Forum
Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant
Chinese Heritage Foundation Grant
Cultural Community Partnership Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board
Winner of 2007 Essentially Choral reading program by American Composers Forum and VocalEssence
MetLife Creative Connections Grant from the Meet The Composer Inc. in New York.
2008
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians
MetLife Creative Connections Grant from the Meet The Composer Inc. in New York.
Emerging Composer Commission from the Jerome Foundation.
Subito award from the American Composers Forum
Awarded an honorary Guest Professor position at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
2009
Global Connections grant from the Meet The Composer Inc. in New York.
USArtists International grant form the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
2010
Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
Student-Faculty Fellows Program from ASIANetwork Freeman Foundation
Subito award from the American Composers Forum
2011
USArtists International Grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Arts Learning Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2012
Winner of the 2012-2013 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians
Winner of the 2012 Global Music Award's - Award of Excellence
Arts Tour Minnesota Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2013
Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
Sorel Medallion from the Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization
Student-Faculty Fellows Program from ASIANetwork Freeman Foundation
2014
416 Club Commissions by Cedar Cultural Center
Artist Initiative Grant from Minnesota State Arts Board
2015
Arts Learning Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
Arts Tour Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
2016
USArtists International grant form the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
"Pipa Potluck - Lutes Around the World" - Winner of the 2016 Global Music Award - Outstanding Album Award
