Dizi Virtuoso - Yicheng Zhang
Dizi Virtuoso: Yicheng Zhang
Mr. Yicheng Zhang is a famous virtuoso of the Chinese dizi (bamboo flute). After he graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Mr. Zhang served as the first chair of dizi at the Shanghai Opera House and he is a member of the Chinese Musicians Association, of the Chinese National Orchestra Music Association, and also a member of the Chinese Eastern Music Society.
In 1988, Mr. Zhang began his master's degree research on music theory and composition at Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Mr. Zhang has performed on TV shows and radio stations in the United States, such as KOAM, KRPS in Kansas, KSCI, KNBC, KVEA, KAZN in Los Angeles and TVBS in Taiwan.
From 1989 to 1990 Mr. Zhang was invited to a concert where he performed with the Southeast Kansas Symphony. Mr. Zhang also joined the string quartet, where he performed bamboo flute concerto:
“Longing” and “The Song of the Mountains”. Mr. Zhang has been invited to perform in many cities and universities in New York, San Francisco, New Mexico, UCLA, USC, UCI etc...
In 1991 Mr. Zhang introduced dizi into Chinese schools in the United States as a Chinese music cultural curriculum, which opened a new page in the history of Chinese musical instrument courses. Since 1991, Mr. Zhang has been teaching in two famous Chinese schools in Southern California for more than two decades.
From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Zhang was invited by Warner Bros. Co to play Chinese traditional instrument dizi, xiao, xun and bawu for recording 120 episodes of the TV series: “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues”. Mr. Zhang's recording for the “Kung Fu” soundtrack was published by Warner Bros. In 1994.
From 1995 to 1997 Mr. Zhang was invited to play the dizi and xiao for the television series “Hercules: the Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” by Universal. In the year of 1997, Mr. Zhang was also invited by MGM to play the dizi and xiao for the movie “the Red Corner”.
In 1999 Wind Records Recording Co of Taiwan published 2 CDs of Qin & Xiao, in which Mr. Zhang was the Xiao performer.
In 2000 Mr. Zhang was honorably invited to be the dizi and xiao performer for the movie “Pavillion of Women”.
In 2004 Mr. Zhang was invited by Silk Rain Media as the music composer and performer for the “Kingdom of Women”.
In 2005 Mr. Zhang was awarded a multi-year contract by the Orange County Performing Arts Center for touring performances to introduce oriental music to the local middle and elementary school students.
In 2006 “Chinese Folk Songs: dizi solo Compilation” and 2 CDs by Yicheng Zhang was published by Shanghai Music Publishing House.
In 2013 Mr. Zhang was invited to act as the conductor of the Spring Thunder Chinese Music Association of Los Angeles and since 2015 he became the permanent conductor of the association.
In 2015
From 2016 Mr. Zhang became the conductor and vice president of the Chinese Music Association of Southern California. Mr. Zhang also is the conductor for the Meranous National Music Orchestra.
Mr. Zhang has been the director of the Los Angeles Chinese Orchestra and the conductor of the Jing Jing Chinese Youth Orchestra of Southern California.
