Cheng Yu

UK Chinese Music Ensemble Pipa & Plucked String Ensemble Performs at the 76th Anniversary of China’s National Day in London
2025-08-23 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
The Pipa and Plucked String Ensemble of the UK Chinese Music Ensemble was honoured to perform at the 76th Anniversary Celebration of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, held in London and hosted by the UK Chinese community.
The event brought together overseas Chinese, local residents, and friends of China to celebrate this important national occasion with music, culture, and unity.
The ensemble presented a newly arranged three-part version of Joyful Days (欢乐的日子), performed entirely from memory after a focused period of rehearsal and preparation. Their refined musicianship and ensemble coordination were warmly received by the audience, contributing to the festive and uplifting atmosphere of the evening.
This performance reflects the UK Chinese Music Ensemble’s continuing mission to promote Chinese traditional music and foster cultural exchange both within the UK and internationally.

Recording for CCTV “Year of the Horse” with award-winning BBC film and TV composer Barnaby Taylor
2025-07-31 08:00 - 17:00
On 31 July 2025, Professor Cheng Yu and colleagues were invited to record music for “The Year of the Horse”, part of China Central Television’s new series on the 12-animal zodiac, with award-winning BBC film and TV composer Barnaby Taylor. This marks their third collaboration over more than a decade, following the acclaimed BBC series Wild China and Disney’s Born in China. The session featured a rich blend of traditional Chinese instruments, creating an evocative sound world for this upcoming production.

Dr Cheng Yu Appointed Professor of Practice at SOAS University of London
2025-07-14 08:00 - 17:00
Date: 14 July 2025Institution: SOAS University of London
Dr Cheng Yu has been officially appointed as Professor of Practice at SOAS University of London, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Chinese music, performance, and cross-cultural education.
In the appointment letter issued by the Executive Board of SOAS, Prof. Cheng is welcomed as an honorary member of the academic staff in the Department of Music, where she will continue to contribute her professional expertise to research, outreach, and international collaboration.
Reflecting on this milestone, Prof. Cheng Yu wrote:

I was deeply honoured to receive this letter from the Vice Dean of SOAS. Since arriving in the UK, SOAS has been like an invisible magnet drawing me closer over the years. From a young musician fresh from the Beijing Chinese Orchestra—barely speaking English—to completing my Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral studies, and teaching at SOAS… I am truly grateful for this recognition and for the support of my family. I will continue to dedicate myself to the music I love — Chinese music.

London Youlan Qin Society 22nd Anniversary & 2025 London International Chinese Music Festival Press Release
2025-07-12 13:00 - 16:30 | SOAS, Uni. of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square London WC1H 0XG, , Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG
London Youlan Qin Society 22nd Anniversary & 2025 London International Chinese Music Festival Press Release

The Youlan Qin Society celebrated its 22nd anniversary on 13 July with a special Yaji gathering at SOAS University of London, marking this year’s World Guqin Day.
The event also served as the official launch of the 3rd London International Chinese Music Festival, which will take place from 25–30 August 2025.
Co-organised by China Arts UK, Youlan Qin Society, and the UK Chinese Music Ensemble, in collaboration with the Chinese National Orchestra Society and several academic institutions, this year’s festival will once again bring together leading Chinese and British musicians, scholars, and international guests to present a rich blend of traditional and contemporary Chinese music.
A Milestone for the Youlan Qin Society
Founded on 13 July 2003 — symbolically referencing the seven strings and thirteen markers of the guqin — Youlan Qin Society is Europe’s largest and most influential non-profit organisation dedicated to the guqin. Led by Dr Cheng Yu, guqin and pipa lecturer at SOAS, the society has held over 150 Yaji gatherings and 21 summer schools, with over 500 members and students from more than 20 countries.
The society has long been a bridge between East and West, not only promoting Chinese classical music but also exploring interdisciplinary connections with tea culture, calligraphy, meditation, and poetry. It has performed at renowned venues such as the British Museum and V&A Museum, and continues to serve as a vital platform for intercultural exchange.
Festival Highlights: Tradition Meets Innovation
The 2025 edition of the London International Chinese Music Festival will span London, Oxford, and Telford, featuring:

Five thematic concerts,
A multi-day Summer School of Chinese Music,
Graded exams and competitions in traditional Chinese instruments.

Key concerts include:

“Echoes of Nature” Gala Concert (27 August): spotlighting intangible cultural heritage such as kunqu opera, guqin, and silk and bamboo ensemble music.
“China-West Soundscape” Concert (29 August): premiering works by contemporary composers including Zhao Jiping’s Qing Yun, Li Xinyan’s Mountain Festivities, Lin Bingrui’s Sword Shadows, and Sun Keting’s Borderless.

Distinguished Artists and Diverse Curriculum
This year’s teaching faculty features:

Zhao Xinzhi (yangqin, Xi’an Conservatory of Music),
Lin Weili (guqin),
Li Xinyan (composer, USA),
Lin Bingrui (conductor, Australia),
among others.

Courses include pipa, guqin, guzheng, erhu, dizi, xiao, kunqu, percussion, as well as ensemble training, calligraphy, Go, and creative workshops — offering a comprehensive, immersive musical and cultural experience.
An Invitation to Join Us
The organisers view the festival as more than a performance series — it is a platform for dialogue between cultures, nurturing new talent, and promoting Chinese music on the global stage.
We warmly invite artists, students, enthusiasts, and the wider public to join us this summer in celebrating the beauty and depth of Chinese music and culture.
📍 Full programme and registration details available at:
👉 www.ukchinesemusic.org/london-international-chinese-music-festival-2025

Charity Dinner Appearance at London Chinatown for London Huayu Radio Fundraising
2025-07-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Chinatown, London
On July 5th, I was delighted to be invited to a special charity fundraising dinner held in the heart of London Chinatown, hosted by the North London Chinese Association in support of London Huayu Radio.
As the evening went on and conversations deepened, I was amazed to discover the calibre of my dinner companions:
Cllr Tim Mitchell, Lord Mayor of Westminster
Andrew Bailey, Council Officer of Ealing
John Craven, Property Entrepreneur
Peter Vautier, Founder of London Huayu Radio
Naturally, I took the opportunity to introduce our upcoming London International Chinese Music Festival this summer. To my astonishment, they all smiled and said, “We already know — look here. They handed me the beautifully printed programme booklet — and there it was: a full-page poster of our music festival already featured inside! What a delightful surprise and honour.
A heartfelt thank you to the North London Chinese Association and CIAC (Chinese Information and Advice Centre) for the warm invitation and support. And to London Huayu Radio, we wish you continued success in building a vibrant, multicultural voice for our communities.

Summer Solstice Celebration Performance at Charlton Park
2025-06-22 08:00 - 17:00
Date: Saturday, 22 June 2025Time: 13:00–16:00Venue: Charlton Park, Southeast LondonHosted by: GFMA RecordsSpecial Guest: Cllr David Gardener, Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Dr Cheng Yu and members of the UK Chinese music community were delighted to perform once again at this year’s Summer Solstice Celebration in Charlton Park. The event opened with a warm welcome from Deputy Mayor David Gardener of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Celebrating cultural harmony and musical storytelling, the concert featured live performances on traditional Chinese instruments including the pipa (琵琶), dizi (笛子), and xiao (箫), blending Eastern sounds into a vibrant local festival atmosphere. A heartfelt thanks to GFMA Records for hosting this wonderful community event.

Lutes of the Silk Road – Concert and Workshop
2025-05-10 08:00 - 17:00
Lutes of the Silk Road – Concert and Workshop
Following the success of the Lutes of the Silk Road project funded by the Arts Council England in July 2024 — which included workshops and a concert at the BGL Theatre, SOAS, University of London — the ensemble has been invited by the Lute Society to present a special talk and concert.
Initiated and led by Professor Cheng Yu, this cross-cultural project brings together musicians from China, Central Asia, and the Middle East, showcasing both traditional and improvised music on a variety of lutes and string instruments.
Performers:Cheng Yu – PipaShohret Nur – Uyghur RawapSabine Masters – Kazakh DombraAhmet Ozan Baysal – Turkish Bağlama (Saz)Rihab Azar – Syrian OudPouyan Biglar – Turkish Bağlama (Saz)Elizabeth Nott – PercussionAntonio Romero – PercussionTommy Khosla – Sitar (tbc)
For details and tickets, please visit: lutesociety.org

Residence for new composition and workshop - with Southampton University
2025-04-28 - 2025-05-01 | Southampton University, Southampton University, University Rd, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Cheng Yu has been invited by Prof. Matthew Shlomowitz in composition Dept in Southampton University to give workshops and working with composer
PhD student Mr Linhao Li, to create a new composition for 5-stringed pipa, flute, clarinet, violin, cello as well as percussion instruments. This new piece will be performed and recorded on the 1st of May in the University.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Film with Orchestra - Royal Albert Hall
2025-04-25 19:30 | Royal Albert Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AP
Cheng Yu is honoured to have been invited to perform as pípá soloist at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Symphony Orchestra, for a special live screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Conducted by Maestro Anthony Gabriele, this performance marked the European premiere of the Film in Concert edition of this beloved classic.
This remarkable evening celebrated the 25th anniversary of Ang Lee’s multi-Oscar-winning film, with an unforgettable live rendition of Tan Dun’s Academy Award®-winning score – including mesmerising solos on the pípá and cello.
The evening also included a sold-out solo recital by Cheng Yu at the Prince of Wales Room, showcasing the expressive beauty of the Chinese pípá (lute) before the main concert.
For event details and ticketing information, visit:www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2025/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon
Photos from the EventBelow are a few highlights from this special evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

https://chengyumusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cheng-YuJade程玉🎶-2025-04-04-20.41.40.mp4

“Epic China” recording project for West One Music
2025-04-01 - 2025-04-05 | SLM Studio, SLM Studio, Surbiton, KT6 5EY
We are excited to recording an album on the Chinese instruments – pipa, guzheng, dizi and xiao flute, Suona shawm as well as erhu fiddle and zhongruan lute with the western orchestra at the SLM studio.

East Meet West Concert
2025-03-28 19:00 - 20:30 | St John the Baptist Church, St John the Baptist Church, Holland Road, London, W14 8AH, United Kingdom
Look forward to performing this exciting concert with talented musicians from “New Elements Music” and new works of composers internally next Friday. We have performed a sold-out concert “Silk Road Music” at the RAM’ Duke’s Hall in February this year (see photos). Hope to see you there.

The concert showcases newly commissioned works combining Eastern and Western music and instruments in creative ways and arrangements. The concerts featuring new compositions including:
Lotus Picking 采莲(UK Premiere) – by Prof. Xinyan Li (Bard Conservatory of Music, USA)
For Dizi flute, pipa lute, cello, erhu fiddle and Piano
Slowboat Prelude 缓舟序幕 (UK Premiere) – by Nicholas Ng (Sydney consecratory, Australia).
For the mix Chinese and Western ensemble.
Springtime Processional 春日盛典 (World Premiere) – by Logan Settle Rashard (Bard Conservatory of Music, USA). For Dizi, pipa and Cello.
Rainforest Morning 雨林清晨 (World Premiere) – by Sijia Zhang (UK, Royal College of Music). For dizi, erhu, cello and piano.
