Jianhua Wang

Chinese percussion

Biography: Wang Jianhua is a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he also serves as director of percussion and research in the Department of Traditional Instruments. He is a member of the Chinese Musicians Association, vice president of the Chinese Percussion Association, vice president of the Chinese National Percussion Association, and a member of the Chinese National Traditional Orchestra.

Born in Tianjin in 1957, he was admitted as a percussion major to the Beijing opera class of the Tianjin Opera School in 1971, and studied Beijing opera gong and drum under Li Shuping. He graduated in 1976 and in 1977, he entered the Chinese music department of the Central Conservatory. He graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree and became a teacher there. From 2009 to 2012, he was honorary head of the percussion department of Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Wang has long been engaged in the performance, teaching, and research of Chinese percussion instruments. As a soloist, he has performed with many orchestras. He won the gold prize for performing arts in the Shanxi International Gong and Drum Competition, and first prize in the Second Jiangnan Sizhu Competition, as well as the WenHua Award, among others. 
Department: Bard Conservatory of Music