The UK and Europe's Leading Chinese Music Agency

Formally established in 1998, the UK Chinese Music (UKCM) is a dedicated professional Chinese music organisation comprising renowned Chinese virtuosi resident mainly in Britain. Its founding members include world-class guqin master professor Li Xiangting, Daoist and erhu music expert Chen Dacan and pipa/guqin virtuoso and ethnomusicologist Dr Cheng Yu.

2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

22 to 27 July 2024

Building on the success of our previous 20 summer schools, and the first International Chinese Music Festival in 2023 (with participants from 13 countries), China Arts, UK Chinese Music and the London Youlan Qin Society, in partnership with SOAS University of London, is proud to present our second London International Chinese Music Festival.

Events

10

October

2024

Venue

Various venues

LANCASTER MUSIC FESTIVAL

A programme of Chinese music performances, from both renowned and local musicians, along with opportunities to join in on workshops, masterclasses, interactive shows and craft activities.


28

September

2024

Venue

Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts, University Park, NG7 2RD

Autumn Charity Concert

Join us for a concert full of uplifting traditional and modern Chinese music.


27

September

2024

Venue

Barbican Centre, Barbican,
London EC2Y 8DS

Silk & Bamboo Music workshop – Barbican Music Library

Look forward to give a performance/workshop at the #barbicanmusiclibrary to celebrate East and South East Asian Heritage Month.


15

September

2024

Venue

China Town, London, W1D 5QA

Mid-Autumn celebration 2024

The largest Mid-Autumn celebration in London’s Chinatown


15

September

2024

Venue

Stonehenge, Salisbury SP4 7DE

Mid Autumn Festival at Stonehenge

Join us for a special Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the iconic Stonehenge! This year, we’ll enjoy traditional Chinese performances under the full moon.


27

June

2024

Venue

Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), SOAS, Uni. of London, WC1H 0XG

Showcase Concert
- 2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

Professional musicians share the stage with up-and-coming young players to showcase their talent and potential. See those who have achieved good results in graded exams and festival competitions. The full programme will be announced on the day.


26

June

2024

Venue

Holy Sepulchre London, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DQ

Gala Concert
- 2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

A feast of traditional and contemporary Chinese music. Featuring China’s master Li Pengpeng (guqin) and UK virtuoso Cheng Yu (pipa), Hu Ruijun (dizi/xiao), Yang Kang (guzheng), Zhang Jiaqi (guqin), Huang Ziyang (erhu) and more. The programme features the Silk String Quartet, Silk and Bamboo Music and the London Youlan Qin Society.


25

June

2024

Venue

BG Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Uni. of London, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG

Lutes of the Silk Road Concert 
- 2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

The unique concert brings together the legendary lutes of the Silk Road - from the Chinese pipa (Cheng Yu), Uyghur rawap (Shohret Nur), Kazakhstan dombra (Sabine Masters), Turkish bağlama (Ozan Baysal), Iranian tar (Pouyan Biglar), to the Syrian oud (Rihab Azar), supported by the percussionist Elizabeth Nott. You will hear the distinctive character of each lute as well as their collective sounds.


25

June

2024

Venue

St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9ED

Lunchtime Concert 
- 2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

A short concert to open our London Chinese music festival to give a taste of Chinese music old and new. Featuring the renowned London Youlan Qin Society (est. 2003) and its guests. Our major concerts - The Silk Road Lutes, the Gala and the Showcase concerts will follow on the 25th to 27th July.


24

June

2024

Venue

St. Giles Church, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ

Cambridge Concert
- 2024 London International Chinese Music Festival

A special programme featuring China’s distinguished master Li Pengpeng (guqin) and UK virtuoso Cheng Yu (pipa), Hu Ruijun (dizi/xiao), Yang Kang (guzheng), Zhang Jiaqi (guqin), Huang Ziyang (erhu) and more. The concert presents the renowned Silk String Quartet, Silk and Bamboo Music and the London Youlan Qin Society.


18

June

2024

Venue

Symphony Hall, Broad St, Birmingham, B1 2EA

Birmingham Concert

Cheng Yu and Dennis Lee perform at the Birmingham Symphony Hall to showcase the classic Chinese instrumental pairings of the guqin zither/pipa lute and xiao/dizi bamboo flutes. They will perform both traditional and modern pieces of various styles and periods.


13

June

2024

Venue

LT THEATRE, SOAS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON RUSSELL SQUARE, WC1H OXG
13.00 - 15.30

LONDON YOULAN QIN SOCIETY 21ST ANNIVERSARY YAJI MUSIC GATHERING

21st LYQS Anniversary Yaji
2024 London International Chinese Music Festival Press Release 


8

July

2023

Venue

SOAS, Djam Lecture Theatre

Yaji: A SUMMER OF FESTIVITIES

You are cordially invited to attend the LYQS's 124th Yaji Chinese Music Gathering (in person and online)


20

August

2023

Venue

To be confirmed

London Internaitonal Chinese Music Festival 2023伦敦国际中国音乐节

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding the 2023 London International Chinese Music Festival this summer, 20-28 August. 


16

May

2023

Venue

Great Court: The British Museum, London, WC1B 7pm, 16th May 2023

The Silk String Quartet (UKCM) Performs at the Opening of ‘China’s Hidden Century’

The award-winning Silk String Quartet has been invited by the British Museum to perform at the opening of this extraordinary exhibition.


Reviews

Jane Spiro

Head of Applied Linguistics and Principal Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University
26-07-2021


Lutes of the Silk Road Concert
A concert held in SOAS Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre on Thursday 25 July 2024, as part of the international Chinese music festival, hosted by the School of Arts.

For music lovers, the Lutes of the Silk Road concert gilding London's week-long International Chinese Music Festival, was a gala of virtuosity and technical wizardry. Showcasing the multifaceted cosmopolitan talent of the SOAS music department, headed up by "Pipa" maestro Dr Cheng Yu, the accomplished band of lute players traced the sounds of ancient trade routes through China, into Central Asia, Iran, Syria and Turkey, each echoing the unique sounds of their homelands.

Read more

Mr Chris Nash

Chairman of SACU Society of Anglo-Chinese understanding
27-07-2024


Gala Concert 
A concert held on Friday 26th July at the Holy Sepulchre in London’s Holborn, as part of the international Chinese music festival.

I’m privileged to be able to bring you a report on the Gala Concert presented by the UK Chinese Music organisation on the evening of Friday 26th July at the Holy Sepulchre in London’s Holborn. In Chinese there is an expression 沁人心脾 qìnrénxīnpí, which in English we can translate as stirring the heart and the soul.

Read more

Nouvelles d'Europe

09-08-2024


The second London International Chinese Music Festival, which lasted for a week, concluded on 27 July at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. This festival provided an opportunity for Chinese music enthusiasts in the UK and Europe to engage and learn. Building on the success of the inaugural festival in 2023, this year's event expanded to include five concerts in Birmingham, Cambridge, and London, a five-day national music summer school, masterclasses, ensemble sessions, salons, workshops, dual-certified examinations and competitions, as well as supplementary courses in calligraphy and painting.

Read more

China News

04-08-2024


2024 Second London International Chinese Music Festival Revives Silk Road Lute Music

This summer, the 2024 Second London International Chinese Music Festival expanded to include five concerts in Birmingham, Cambridge, and London, as well as a national music summer school, masterclasses and ensemble sessions, salons and workshops, dual-certified examinations and competitions.

Read more

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