“Guitarist Xuefei Yang, whose ascending star is already confirmed.” Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine
In the world of the classical guitar, it is rare for a Chinese player to launch an international career but Xuefei Yang has since childhood been a pioneering spirit. She was the first guitarist in China to enter a music school and later to graduate from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with a B.A degree; The first guitarist from her country to study in the UK; and the first guitarist ever to receive an international scholarship from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music for her postgraduate study at Royal Academy of Music. Born in Beijing, she began playing the guitar at the age of seven and took formal tuition at ten from Chen Zhi.
Soon after, she made her first public appearance at the First China International Guitar Festival, and immediately gained such acclaim that the Spanish Ambassador in China presented her with a concert guitar. During her school years, she played extensively in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Spain, Australia and gave concert tours in Taiwan, Japan and Portugal.
When she was 11 she won 2nd prize in the Beijing Senior Guitar competition being the only child competitor. She received the ' Silver Sail ' award from the Mayor of Beijing as one of the 10 best students. When playing in Tokyo the following year, she was given a special award by the Guitar Alliance of Japan, and the celebrated Japanese luthier Masaru Kohno presented her with one of his concert guitars.
The composer Rodrigo attended her debut concert in Madrid when she was 14. A few years later, John Williams left his own Smallman guitar to her after listening to her playing. She has also appeared on numerous radio and television broadcasts in China and abroad. Since 2000, she has been in England studying with Michael Lewin, John Mills and Timothy Walker at the Royal Academy of Music. During this time, she has given recitals at many festivals in the UK, Germany, Finland, France and Singapore, as well as performances at the Wigmore Hall, National Portrait Gallery, St. James Piccadilly, and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Xuefei Yang has also won many prizes in the major competitions, including second prizes in the Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition, San Fransisco International guitar competition and the Young Concert Artist International competition in the USA, the Darwin International competition in Australia, she also won first prize in the Ivor Mairants Award administered by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in the city of London.
In 2002, she graduated with distinction achieving a Recital Diploma, and was awarded the dipRAM. She won the Dorothy Grinstead Prize for a recital at Fairfield Hall, Croydon, and received the Principal's prize for the exceptional all-round studentship, the highest performance award conferred by the Royal Academy of Music. In 2003/04 she will perform nearly 50 concerts for the “Night of the Proms” Tour, appearing in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and will perform recitals in the UK and USA. Her second CD album on the GSP label, which inspired the music from her homeland is in progress.
“It stood out a mile that Yang was a truly remarkable player. This is unquestionably an unusual talented player.” Howard Thomas, Croydon Advertiser, UK.
“She turned sweet, chiming overtones into a wild sound like a hailstorm on a window. Yang's easeful virtuosity won the day.” Matthew Connolly The Times, UK.
“She left the audience completely enraptured.” Dorothee Philipp, Oberbadisches Volksblah, Germany.
“Xuefei Yang is already among the best guitarist in the world.” Badische Zeitung, Germany (July 2002).
“Guitarist Xuefei Yang, whose ascending star is already confirmed.” Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine (May, 2002).
“Praised by all who have heard her.” Colin Cooper, Classical Guitar Magazine (April, 2001).
“Amazing, recommended without reserve.” CD review on HiFi Sound (2000).
