24-28 August 2026, SOAS, University of London
Festival Director: Cheng Yu
Registration is now open for the Fourth London International Chinese Music Festival – the only festival of its kind in Europe.
We offer systematic tuition, master classes and workshops and related learning experiences, grading and competitions as well a series of concerts. You are warmly invited to join us for this rich celebration of Chinese music.
Download the exam and competition guidelines here.
Download the festival registration form here.
Book concert tickets here.
The festival comprises:
• 5-day Summer School 24 to 28 August (mornings).
• 2 days Grading Exams and Competition 27 to 28 August
• Concerts, Date to be confirmed, various themes and venues in London and beyond
• Yaji Literati Gathering – Guqin Music, Poetry, Traditional Costume and Tea (Free)
• Master classes/workshops (afternoons)
• Calligraphy and Chinese chess
• Singing and Choir (new) and Instrumental Ensemble (afternoons)
Main Musicians (International)
• Hong Yue 洪悦 – guzheng virtuosi and national credited examiner (Beijing, China)
• Xie Liqing 谢丽清 – Chaozhou music and sanxian specialist (Canton, China)
• Wu Dan 毋丹 – Kun Opera singer and scholar (Zhejiang, China)
Concert Series
1. Wed. 25 August 6pm: Concert and workshop at CulturalKind Chinese Community, Telford, TF3 3BB, Shropshire
2. Fri. 26 August 7pm: Sound of East Asia, Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), SOAS, Uni. of London WC1H
3. Sat. 27 August 7pm: Gala Concert, Holy Sepulcher Church, London NW1 5LT
4. Sun. 28 August 7pm: Showcase Concert – Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), SOAS.
Yaji Gathering
– Guqin Music, Poetry, Traditional Costume and Tea Sunday 28 August 2:00-4:40pm, Djam Lecture.
The yaji (refined gathering) is a traditional Chinese literati activity with a history traceable to the Wei and Jin periods (3rd to 5th centuries CE). It is a gathering of free-spirited artists associated with guqin (zither) music playing, poetry, calligraphy, landscape painting and tea or wine, discussing philosophy, literature and art. For this meeting, we will focus on guqin music (and associated instrumental music) with poetry recital and accompanied with Chinese tea. We encourage participants to wear Hanfu (traditional Chinese costume). Places are limited, please register as early as possible.
SOAS Summer School Programme
24-28 August 2026 at SOAS, University of London
10am to 1pm (Instrumental classes),
2pm to 5pm (workshops, Choir, Ensemble etc.)
The five-day Summer School offers expert tuition on traditional Chinese instruments: guqin 古琴, guzheng 古筝, pipa 琵琶, sanxian 三弦, erhu 二胡, dizi 笛子and xiao箫, singing and Chinese choir (声乐/合唱), Chinese folk percussion (中乐民族打击乐) and an ensemble class (民乐合课).
The summer school is carefully structured based on our previous experience: participants learn individual instruments they have chosen in the morning, join the workshops/masterclasses, singing/choir and ensemble classes in the afternoons and go to a concert in the evenings. It will be a friendly, colourful and fulfilling week. The summer school is a rare opportunity for anyone in the UK and overseas interested in learning and understanding more about traditional Chinese music and instruments. The summer school will combine group classes, one-to-one sessions, masterclasses, talks and demonstrations. It will be open to participants with little or no experience as well as to those at higher levels.
All our tutors have Masters or higher degrees (see above) on their perspective instruments in both China and the UK and have years of teaching experience. At the end of the summer school, participants will have opportunities to give a demonstration and/or performance.
Masterclasses and Workshops
SOAS main building room G52 – 2.00pm
• Pipa masterclass – by Prof. Cheng Yu, 24 August 2pm
• Erhu workshop – Prof. Zhao Huan/Huang Ziyang – 24 August 7pm to 9pm
• Dizi/Xiao/ flutes workshop – Lu Zongpu/Dennis Lee: 25 August 2pm
• Guqin masterclass – 25 August 7 to 9pm
• Guzheng workshop – Yang Kang/Ji Mengdie, 26 August 2pm
• Sanxian (3-stringed lute) masterclass – Xie Liqing, 26 August 7pm
• Kunqu Opera workshop – Wang Wei, 28 August 10am
• Calligraphy workshop – Azalea Qin Lei, 28 August 2pm.
Chinese Singing and Choir Course – SOAS, 2.00 to 3.30pm, 24 to 27 Aug,
As part of the festival, we are delighted to present a fun and welcoming vocal workshop open to both young teenagers and adults to sing in Chinese. No previous experience is required. Through these five interactive sessions, participants will explore voice, breathing, musical expression, and the joy of singing together in a relaxed and creative environment.
The singing course includes:
• Basic vocal and breathing techniques Voice relaxation and resonance exercises
• Simple song learning and musical expression
• Group singing and harmony experience
• Confidence and stage presence building
We warmly welcome you to join us this summer and discover the power of your own voice. At the end of the summer school, you will be a chance to demonstrate what you have learnt and to join in a group/choir performance. Ensemble classes (level 3/4 or above required)
Prof. Zhaohuan, Prof. Chen Dacan, Prof. Cheng Yu, Xie Liqing and others.
The ensemble class is designed for students to learn and practice in a group setting under the guidance of the tutors. Participant are required to have obtained at least a level 3 or 4 qualification from any nationally recognized examining body in China, such as CNOS, China Central Conservatory, China conservatory and Shanghai Conservatory. Through this course, participants can expect to learn at least two pieces at different levels. Confident players will join the Showcase concert to perform.
Chinese Folk Percussion Music Course
Supplementary activity
Weiqi (Chinese Chess (Go)) – during leisure periods (e.g. lunchtime, practice time)
Supervisor Elaine Yu
Chinese Calligraphy Workshop (SOAS, Room G52)
Calligraphy: Azalea Qin Lei – 2 to 4pm, 28rd Aug.
We reserve the right to adjust the schedule, venues and personnel due to unforeseen circumstances.
Tutors for the festival summer school classes
• Guqin 古琴 Advanced classes
• Guqin 古琴初中级 Beginner to intermediate – taught by Chia-Yin Hung 洪嘉吟
• Pipa 琵琶 – taught by Prof. Cheng Yu and Lin Chen 程玉教授/林晨
• Guzheng 古筝 – taught by Yang Kang and Ji Mengdie 杨康/冀梦蝶
• Erhu 二胡 – taught by Huang Ziyang and Prof. Chen Dacan 黄子洋/陈大灿教授
• Dizi and xiao flutes笛箫– taught by Zongpu Lu and Dennis Lee 路宗璞/李光泰
• Sanxian lute 三弦 and Chaozhou Music – taught by Xie Liqin 谢丽清
• Chinese Percussion 民族打击乐 – taught by Wan Ying/Jiang Hui 万英/蒋慧
• Singing & Choir – taught by Wang Chen 王晨
• Ensemble Class – taught by Prof Zhao Huan, Prof. Chen Dacan, Wan Ying
• Calligraphy workshop – taught by Azalea 秦蕾
• Chinese Chess (Go) – Lunchtime leisure activity, overseen by Elaine Yu 于宁
At the end of the summer school, all participants will have opportunities to demonstrate what they have learnt. We encourage participants, especially young learners, to take the instrumental Grading Exams and competition that the festival provides to show what they have achieved. High achievers and winners will join our Showcase and or concerts with our professional musicians.
Concerts and Festival Performances
The festival presents a series of performances featuring artists from the UK, China and the wider international Chinese music community.
Gala Concert
The SOAS concert will focus on traditional Chinese and Intangible Cultural Heritage music, featuring instruments such as guqin, guzheng, pipa, dizi, xiao, xun, erhu and ruan, alongside ensemble works, opera collaborations and performances by outstanding festival participants and prizewinners.
Showcase Concert
This concert will feature festival artists, participants, and selected prizewinners from the grading examinations and competition.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
• perform in public concerts
• take part in a professional competition
• receive official dual certification recognised in China and the UK
• join lectures, workshops and masterclasses
• receive guidance from distinguished artists and adjudicator
Grading Examinations and Competition
27–28 August 2026 | SOAS, University of London
The festival offers participants the opportunity to take part in grading examinations and competitions jointly evaluated and recognised in both China and the UK/West, though the examining bodies: SOAS, University of London, China Arts (UK) and the China Nationalities Orchestra Society (CNOS) – China’s leading authority for Chinese music.
There has long been a need for learners of Chinese traditional instruments in the UK to be able to take such exams and have their achievements over the years recognised, and to encourage them to further their musical development. This is especially good for young learners as the grades are recognised by UK mainstream schools. For example, our grade achievers and competition winners have contributed to their music scholarship in mainstream schools, university entry and to giving performances on major stages in the UK. For details, see the guidelines.
Categories include:
• All Traditional Chinese instruments (individuals and ensembles)
• Vocal performance (Songs in Chinese, individuals and Choirs)
•Chinese instruments with Western or World music groups/ensembles.
Exams and competitions (divided into youth and adult groups) include all types of traditional Chinese instruments: guqin, guzheng, pipa, liuqin, yangqin, sanxian, zhongruan/daruan, erhu, dizi, xiao, sheng, suona, hulusi, singing, choir and ensemble/group performances.
Awards include First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, Outstanding Performance Award, Best Stage Presentation Award and Outstanding Teacher Award.
Join Us
If you love Chinese music, wish to perform on an international stage, or would like to deepen your artistic and cultural experience, we warmly invite you to join the 2026 London International Chinese Music Festival.
Registration and Enquiries
Places are limited and early registration is strongly recommended.
Email: info@ukchinesemusic.com
Websites: ukchinesemusic.org | china-arts.uk | chengyumusic.com
Instagram: @ukchinesemusic @china_arts_uk @londonyoulanqinsociety
Download the exam and competition guidelines here.
Download the festival registration form here.