Qu Xiaosong

Full biography Qu Xiaosong

Qu Xiaosong is a renowned contemporary Chinese composer, born in Shanghai in 1955. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1983 before pursuing further studies in Europe, where he worked with renowned composers such as Gérard Grisey.

Qu Xiaosong's music is known for its unique fusion of Eastern and Western musical elements. He incorporates traditional Chinese instruments into his compositions, such as the pipa, erhu, and guzheng, alongside Western instruments to create a sound that is both familiar and exotic.

His works have been performed by renowned orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Sinfonietta, and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. In 1997, he was awarded the prestigious French government scholarship, the Prix de Rome, which allowed him to work and study in Paris for two years.

In recent years, Qu Xiaosong has collaborated with artists from various fields, from dancers to filmmakers. His music has been used in numerous films, including Jia Zhangke's "Still Life" and Wang Xiaoshuai's "In Love We Trust."

Overall, Qu Xiaosong's unique musical style and groundbreaking approach to composition have cemented his place as one of China's most important contemporary composers, both locally and on the international stage.