LONDON — Pipa virtuoso and composer Gao Hong will present a live concert of her acclaimed album Symphony of Self with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at London’s historic Temple Church on January 17, 2026. By Jian Ping Sun
The performance will feature four original concertos that blend the ancient Pudong pipa tradition with the full colour and scale of a Western symphony. Pipa virtuoso and composer Gao Hong reaches a striking new artistic pinnacle with Symphony of Self, drawing on embracing the breadth and colour of a full orchestra, Gao crafts a richly textured sound world where centuries-old artistry meets bold contemporary imagination.
Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, these concertos reimagine the Chinese lute for the modern symphonic stage, offering a fresh and dynamic perspective on an instrument rarely heard in this context.
Symphony of Self represents a new artistic pinnacle for Gao Hong, reflecting her decades-long dedication to innovation and cross-cultural musical dialogue. “Gao Hong’s music has inspired and moved countless people around the globe. As one of the premier pipa players in the world, her illustrious career is filled with accomplishments as a musician, composer, and educator,” said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
A graduate of Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music, where she studied under master Lin Shicheng, Gao Hong has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Centre Festival, and the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Smithsonian, and at festivals in Paris, Caen, Milan, Perth, and throughout Spain. She has collaborated with many international orchestras worldwide, such as the China National Traditional Orchestra and the Guangdong National Traditional Orchestra and multiple countries.
Gao Hong has received numerous top awards and honours in China and U.S. since 2005. In December of 2025 Gao was inducted into the Transglobal Music Hall of Fame. Gao is also the author of the first pipa method book written in English that was published and distributed worldwide by Hal Leonard, the world’s largest music print publisher.
