"Gao Ping is one of a new generation that is breathing new life into the classical tradition. An evening with Gao Ping's music is a true adventure!"

Frederic Rzewski

(Click here for biography in Chinese).

Composer and pianist Gao Ping was born in the city of Chengdu in the Sichuan Province of China. He grew up at the time when China was undergoing its transformation from a collective to a market economy, this transitional phase between old and new leaving traces that would later be evident in his music. His father, Gao Wei-jie, is a well-known composer and teacher who formed the first new music society in China, the Society for Exploration of New Music, in 1983. His mother is Luo Liang-Lian, a singer and teacher.

The Beijing-based musicologist Li Xi-An has referred to Gao Ping as a leading member of the “sixth generation” Chinese composers after the “fifth generation” composers such as Tan Dun and Qu Xiao-Song. His music has met success all over the world. In demand as a composer and pianist, he has received commissions and performances from the Zurich-based Ensemble Pyramide, pianist Frederic Rzewski, Ursula Oppens, Michael Houstoun, James Tocco, John Chen, violinist Arnold Steinhardt, New Zealand String Quartet, NZTrio, T’ang Quartet, Berlin Piano-Percussion Ensemble, The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Taiwan National Chinese Orchestra. Many prestigious venues have presented his work such as the Aspen Music Festival, the Gaudeamus International Music Week in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall, the Hibiki Hall Music Festival in Japan, Macau International Music Festival，Christchurch International Arts Festival，and the Beijing-Modern International Music Festival.

Gao Ping’s chamber music on Naxos label was critically acclaimed and was described by a German critic as “music which wants to be heard with ears of a child, full of wonder and amazement…. deep and vulnerable.” The San Francisco Chronicles called him work “The Mountain” a “superb and often sweepingly beautiful work”. His works also appear on Rattle Records, the Waiteata press and Peersmusic.

In 2008, Gao Ping premiered his Piano Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Kenneth Young. The work was enthusiastically acclaimed as “a major concerto” by The Listener. “Night Alley” for solo piano was performed as the obligatory work for the 4th China International Piano Competition in 2007. In that year, he also provided a part of the award winning score to Vincent Ward’s film “Rain of the Children”. Gao is the recipient of the 2010 CANZ Trust Fund Award.

As a concert pianist, Gao Ping collaborated with living composers such as George Crumb, Frederic Rzewski, Jack Body, and Qu Xiao-Song and has presented numerous premiere performances of new works. His recitals present wide range of repertoire, and often features improvisations which composer Jack Body described as “astounding.” The critic Ian Dando (NZ Listener) called him “the man with 1001 tone colors.” The People’s Music (China) has called Gao’s recital “Sensational”.

Since 2004, Dr. Gao has been a composition lecturer in the School of Music at the Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand.

--- selected press for GAO Ping’s music (2006-07)

“It is a mark of Gao's skill that, in a work（Piano Concerto) of such magnitude, he is able to combine so many diverse elements while at the same time never losing sight of the work's intention and overall design. This is a major new concerto that cries out for early CD release”.
(The Listener, New Zealand）


“The Mountain, a superb and often sweepingly beautiful work for two pianos composed in 2004 by Gao Ping.”
(San Francisco Chronicle, USA)


“……a work (Piano Quintet ‘Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju’) of tremendous depth.”
(The Christchurch Press, NZ)


“Bright Light and Cloud Shadows gives a more delicate sonic impression…… Gao creates string sonorities from an imagined palette of pastels painting in gently evolving textures and with tender long-breathed brush strokes.”
(Washington Post)


“Dance Fury by Gao Ping..…virtuosic and original，the crowd ate it up.”
(Cincinnati Enquire, US)


“The highlights were Gao Ping’s subtly beautiful Bright Cloud and Cloud Shadows from the NZSQ….”
(the Listener, NZ)


“(GAO) Ping’s The Mountain for two pianos was by far the more interesting. It contains a powerful central section, a simultaneous passacaglia and fugue.”
(San Francisco Classical Voice)

“Music which wants to be heard with ears of a child, full of wonder and amazement…. deep and vulnerable. It is becoming increasingly clear that he is possibly the archetype of the contemporary composer.”
(Tokafi, Germany)

“The man with 1001 tone colors. Here is tasteful and sincere music built to last.”
(The Listener, NZ)


“I strongly recommend this disc (GAO Ping’s Chamber music NAXOS) to those who like to get more familiar with contemporary music but are still a little hesitant.”
(Klassikmagazin, Germany)


“A passionate musical soul.”
(The Music Weekly Beijng, China)


“No-one ends a piece with such diaphanous delicacy as GAO.”
(CANZONA - the yearbook of the Composers Association of New Zealand)


“Gao Ping plays his piece for piano and voice, Concealed Kisses, with dazzling virtuosity and sparkling wit.”
(New Zealand Geographic, Jan 2007)