Chu Wanghua
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Name
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Chu Wanghua
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Bio
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Born in China in 1941, Chu Wang-Hua’s compositions were first played at the First National Music Week of China when he was aged just 14 years old. He studied piano and composition at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, and was appointed a lecturer there following his graduation.
Chu Wang-Hua came to Australia in the late 1980s to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, where he studied composition with Peter Tahourdin, and the piano with Donald Thornton. He graduated with a Master of Music in 1986, and following further studies in Melbourne and the USA was awarded a Doctor of Music degree in 1988. He received the Albert Maggs Composition prize in 1987, and has been a represented composer with the Australian Music Centre since 1988.
Since arriving in Australia Chu Wang-Hua has composed a number of pieces, including symphonies, string quartets, piano concertos, and other works. His compositions have been performed and recorded around the world. Two of his symphonies, Ash Wednesday and Autumn Cry, have been performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, while The Borderland Moon, for soprano, sextet and percussion, was performed at the First Contemporary Chinese Composers Festival in Hong Kong. His Piano Sonatina was awarded a prize at the 21st Century Chinese Children’s Piano Compositions Competition in 2000.
Chu Wang-Hua was recently invited by the Chinese Cultural Council to give a number of piano recitals of his own work at Beijing Concert Hall and other venues in September 2002. His book, Selected Works for Piano by Chu Wang-Hua, published by the Music Publishing House of China, will be launched during his tour.
