Yongjuan Yang (楊永娟) is an accomplished erhu performer with the Traditional Orchestra of the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater and a recipient of the prestigious title of National Class I Performer. She graduated from the Department of Traditional Chinese Music at the Central Conservatory of Music in 1988 and joined the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater the same year, where she served throughout her distinguished professional career until retirement.
While studying at the Central Conservatory of Music, Ms. Yang was featured in a recording by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), performing the zhonghu concerto Su Wu. Her erhu solo performances have also been broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV), Tianjin Television, Jiangxi Television, and other major media outlets.
In 1998, she participated in a gala performance at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing honoring the visit of former U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 1999, she performed in the celebrated “Top Ten Chinese Masterpieces” Concert at the Beijing Century Theatre, playing jing-erhu in the classic work Deep into the Night (Ye Shen Chen). The production received the Outstanding Performance Award during the Ministry of Culture’s 50th Anniversary Showcase of State Performing Arts Ensembles.
Ms. Yang also performed the erhu solo part in the acclaimed ballet Raise the Red Lantern, collaborating with symphony orchestras during nationwide tours in Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and other major cities, earning widespread acclaim.
In 2016, she co-composed the erhu solo work Festival in the Miao Mountains with renowned composer and performer Zeng Jianxiong. The piece received both the Work Award and the Best Popular Vote Award at the 2016 Golden Huqin Awards for Small-Scale Works.
Throughout her career, Ms. Yang has frequently served as Concertmaster and Principal Erhu Performer in major collaborative concerts involving orchestras from China, Japan, and Korea. She also performed the jing-erhu part in Xi Cai, a notable work by renowned composer Liu Wenjin.
As a cultural ambassador for Chinese traditional music, Ms. Yang has toured extensively with Chinese artistic delegations, performing in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other countries, helping to promote Chinese musical traditions to audiences around the world.