Resident Artists of the Kunqu Society

Artists
Cai,Qinglin Wu,Chen Anna Chen, Fu-Yen Chen, Zhiping Lok, Yee-Ping Qian, Yi Shen, Xiaoming Shi, Jiehua Tu, Wanfang Wang,Taiqi Wen, Fulin Wen, Yuhang Wu,Dezhang Xu,Juguang Yang,Ling Yeh,Wan-chih Yin,Haiyi Yin,Jifang Yuan,Yucheng

Musicians
Huang,Chenglin Huang,Shirong Wang,Linsong Wang,Zhensheng Xu,uyuan Zhou,Ming

Artists
Cai， Qinglin A leading Kunqu performer of clown roles in China, Mr. Cai is a graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts and a former member of the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. He engages and mesmerizes his audience from the moment he takes the stage, and throughout the performance. He has been invited to appear in many performing art festivals in Spain and United States. Mr Cai has been a Resident Artist of the Society since its inception.

Wu， Chen Anna A graduate of National Taiwan Normal University with a M.A. in Chinese classical literature specialized in Yuanqu and Kunqu dramas. Mrs. Wu she has been a Chinese language teacher for over 40 years, and she served as Head-Teacher of the Chinese Language Program at the United Nations, from 1981 to 2002. Besides teaching Chinese language, Mrs. Wu is devoted in the studying, preserving and promoting Kunqu performing art in the United States. She has written many articles and theses on classical Chinese theatrical arts, and is the editor of the book “The Arts of the Chinese Classical Theater.” Mrs. Wu is also a performer of the young refined female role type. She has been the President of the Kunqu Society since 1997.

Chen， Fu-yen Founding President of the Kunqu Society, Inc. (1988-1996), ethnomusicologist (Wesleyan University, Ph.D., 1976), and a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow (1971-1972), Mr. Chen is the architect and leader in establishing the Kunqu Society as a leading Kunqu workshop and Kunqu Theatre Company, serving the academic and cultural communities of the New York, New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. He is the producer of many of the Kunqu Society’s grand performances and lectures/demonstrations, such as “Spring-Grass” (1997), “Lady Glory’s Trek to the North”(1994), “The Beauty of the Kunqu Opera”(1994), and “Pan Chin-lien” (1999).

Chen， Zhiping Specialized in the painted-face type, Mr. Chen is a master portrayer of roles of warriors and other macho characters with bravery, chivalry and a fiery temper. One of the first distinguished graduates of the prominent Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts, Mr. Chen was for years a major Kunqu star with the Shanghai Kunqu Troup before coming to the U.S. With his high artistry in singing, acting and acrobatic motions, he has made a profound impression on audiences in and out of China.

Lok， Yee Ping Ms. Yee Ping Lok is the Master folk artist. A graduate of the Shanghai Traditional Performing Arts School, Ms. Lok studied with Kunqu masters Shen Chuanzhi and Zhang Chuanfang for 8 years, and learned the performing skills of three female role-types: young vivacious female, young cultivated female and the virtuous female. Many of her peers only specialized in one role-type because the performing skills of these three roles are very different from each other. Prior to her emigration to Hong Kong, Ms. Lok was one of the leading female performers of the prestigious Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. While in Hong Kong, she worked as a lecturer and an instructor for the Hong Kong Kunqu Association, and was in charge of a TV series of “Introductions to Kunqu Performing Art”. She helped organize many successful presentations to introduce China’s outstanding Kunqu artists and their signature plays. She continues to teach Kunqu performing art after coming to the United States in 1995. Currently, she is the Head-Teacher of the Kunqu Workshop.

Qian， Yi A graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts, Ms. Qian has performed throughout China, receiving wide acclaim for her performances and was awarded as “National Best Young Kunqu Actress” by the Chinese Minister of Culture. Ms. Qian has made numerous appearances as one of the leading artists in The Peony Pavilion, a Lincoln Center production in 1999. In 2001, she made her English language debut The Orphan of Zhao, directed by Shi-zheng Chen and produced by Lincoln Center Theatre.

Shen， Xiaoming A well-known Kunqu performer of young and old male role types, Mr. Shen graduated from the Shanghai Chinese Opera School. He is a former member of the famous Shanghai Kunqu Troupe and had been on tours with the Troupe to many countries. Currently, he is a Resident Artist of the Kunqu Society.

Shi， Jiehua A leading Kunqu performer of vivacious young female roles, Ms. Shi is a graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts and a former member of the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. Her exemplary acting, dancing and singing - enhanced by her natural beauty of voice and appearance on stage - make her a star of Kunqu theater. She has been invited to appear in many performing arts festivals in Spain, Taiwan, and the United States. Ms. Shi has been a Resident Artist of the Society since its inception and is the Director of New York Kunqu Troupe and the Head-teacher of the Kunqu Workshop.

Tu， Wanfang A consummate performer of the role type of `guimen dan,' elegant and refined ladies in Kunqu, Mme. Tu is a graduate of Shanghai Kunqu School. With expressiveness, loveliness and an unusually lyrical soprano, Mme. Tu has made memorable to her audience all the parts she has played, among which Lady White Snake is her signature role. She is a resident artist of the Kunqu Society.

Wang， Taiqi A graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts and one of the leading performers of the young male role of the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe, Mr. Wang is well recognized for his excellent showmanship, his versatility in all facets of the Kunqu performing arts. He plays old male role, as well as clown and old female roles. He is also a popular Peking Opera actor, appears in many major performances in New York, Washington D.C. and in the West Coast. Currently, he is a Resident Artist of the Kunqu Society

Wen， Fulin A well-known actor of the old male role type in Kun, Peking, and Shaoxing opera. Mr. Wen is a graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts. He joined the Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Company in 1962. He joined the Lincoln Center “Peony Pavilion” production team in 1999 and toured around Europe. Mr. Wen has been a Resident Artist of the Kunqu Society since its founding.

Wen， Yuhang Mr. Wen graduated from Beijing Traditional Opera School, specializing in the young scholar role. As the principal actor in the Northern Kunju Opera Company, he performed throughout China, Taiwan and Europe. In 1999, he joined Lincoln Center “Peony Pavilion” Performing Group as the leading actor. In recent years, besides perform for the New York Kunqu Society, Wintergreen Kunqu Society and Society for Kunqu Art, he has been invited to perform and to teach in Taiwan and China. He is now the Kunqu Society’s Director of Programs and instructor of the male role-type.

Wu， Dezhang A graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts, Mr. Wu plays three role types in Kunqu: the young scholar, the warrior and the clown. Playing all the different parts to perfection, Mr. Wu joined the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe and toured with the troupe in many countries. Currently, Mr. Wu is a Resident Artist of the Kunqu Society, and concurrently serves as the Director of the Kunqu Workshop, a school affiliated to the Kunqu Society.

Xu， Juguang Ms. Xu studied Kun and Peking opera under the great actors Lu Huijun and Hua Chuanhao, specializing in the young female role type. Ms. Xu is well known for the clarity of her big voice and for her in-depth portrayals of different characters. She is a Resident Artists of the Kunqu Society.

Yang， Ling Miss Yang is a graduate of the Tianjin Institute of Arts, Beijing Cinema Academy and Central Broadcast Institute, where she studied Beijing opera, dance, movie and TV acting and broadcasting. She had been a member of the Tianjin Institute of Beijing Opera for many years. A winner of many awards in Beijing opera and dance contests, Miss Yang is also a promising actress. She appeared in several popular Chinese movies and TV series. Currently she is a professional Chinese dancer and participates in the Kunqu Society’s productions.

Yeh， Wan-chih Graduated from National Taiwan Chung-hsing University with major in classical Chinese literature, Ms. Yeh is a talented young Kunqu performer of young female roles. She is also an experienced Beijing Opera performer. She is in charge of the management of costumes and documents for the Kunqu Society.

Yin， Haiyi A leading Kunqu and Beijing Opera performer of female warrior role type, Ms. Yin is a graduate of the Shanghai Academic of Performing Arts and a former member of the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. She has been invited to appear in performing arts festivals in Germany, Great Britain, Japan and the United States. Currently she is one of the Resident Artists of the Kunqu Society.

Yin， Jifang A leading Kunqu performer of young male roles in China, Ms. Yin joined the Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Company at the age of thirteen and soon became a pillar of the company. A graduate of the Shanghai Drama Institute, Ms. Yin is also a scholar on Chinese theater directing, aesthetics and teaching methods. She is now the Vice President and the Artistic Director of the Kunqu Society.

Yuan， Yucheng A graduate of the Shanghai Academic of Performing Arts, Mr. Yuan is a Kunqu performer of male warrior role type. He has been invited to perform in Denmark, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and the United States as one of the leading artists of the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. Currently Mr. Yuan is a member of the Nai-ni Chen Dance Company, and has received excellent reviews form dance critics as well as the New York Times.


Musicians

Wang， Zhensheng (Drummer, Conductor) A graduate of the Jiangsu Drama School, Mr. Wang served as master drummer at the Jiangsu Kunqu Institute. He is also a distinguished performer of the two-stringed fiddle and the flute, two classical Chinese musical instruments. Currently, he is the conductor of the orchestra of the Kunqu Society and the director of the percussion apprenticeship program.

Zhou， Ming (Flutist) Mr. Zhou is a master of the dizi, the Chinese bamboo flute. A graduate of the Shanghai Academy of Performing Arts, he received a BA degree in Dizi from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1989 and was acclaimed as a First-rate Musician according to the official ranking system in China. Mr. Zhou has performed as the lead musician for over twenty-five major Kunqu plays, including the Lincoln Center production of The Peony Pavilion in July, 1999. He is currently the principal musician of the Kunqu Society and has participated in many of the Society’s demonstrations and performances.

Guo， Jingqiang A graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he studied with Wei Zhongle and Chen Junying. Mr. Guo has been a member of the Shanghai Orchestra, the Shanghai Philharmonic and the Shanghai Traditional Music Orchestra. He is now an internationally known erhu master, and the conductor of the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York.

Huang， Chenglin A graduate of the Shanghai Chinese Drama School, under the tutorship of Kong Jin, Zhao Jigeng and Dai Jinfu, Mr. Huang went to Beijing after graduating in 1966 and further enhanced his artistic skills under several great masters. His commitment to excellence has distinguished him as an outstanding musician of a variety of Chinese musical instruments, such as the two-stringed fiddle, flute, Chinese clarinet, moon mandolin and others.

Huang， Shirong After graduating from the Shanghai Chinese Drama School, he served as the conductor of the famous Shanghai Beijing Opera Troupe for more than 30 years. Several of the Troupe‘s popular productions that he conducted have won national awards or have been made into movies. He has been invited to perform in the USSR, Japan, Hong Kong and US.

Wang， Linsong Mr. Wang joined the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Theater in 1958, where he mastered a variety of musical instruments, including pipa, three-stringed lute, reed pipes and Chinese operatic drums. He was also a Composer-in Residence at the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Theater. Since coming to the US, he has been a Resident Artist of the Tung Ching Chinese Culture Center.

Xu， Yuyuan Mr. Xu is a graduate from the department of Chinese Folk Music of the Shanghai Academy of Music, majoring in flute. He served in the Shanghai Beijing Opera Troupe for 27 years. Currently Mr. Xu is both a resident artist and the flute instructor of the Kunqu Society. He is also the resident artist of the New York Chinese Music Ensemble.

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Resident Artists of the Kunqu Society

Wang， Zhensheng (Drummer, Conductor)