Biography

Once hailed by the local music critic as the "Diamond Voice", lyric tenor Li Lie Gang is a popular vocalist in the region in recent years. His training in music started with violin and composing. At the age of 18, he was discovered to be gifted with singing talent and had since began his long journey of training under Professor Ma Rui Ru of the Shanghai Opera House. From 1975 to 1985, he was the tenor soloist at the Shanghai Broadcasting Philharmonic, honing tirelessly his skills in the artistic music scene. He had toured performed in over 50 cities in China, accumulating abundant experience in stage performance.

Li Lie Gang was admitted into the Nation-Wide Advanced Course for Professional Solo Artist at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1980. He started teaching and researching in vocal theory in 1985, collaborating with the distinguished vocal theorist Professor Zhou Xiao Yan to produce a tape on "How to Sing".

In 1988, Li Lie Gang began studying and teaching in the Department of Vocal Studies, Hong Kong Academy of Arts and obtained the Advanced Diploma from the Academy in 1990. Within two short years in Hong Kong, he had held three solo recitals and played major roles in five operas. The Hong Kong press critics described him as a "rare tenor", "a good opera performer" with "a pure voice, beautiful high tones".

Li Lie Gang came to Singapore in 1990 and is now a Singapore citizen. From 1991 to 1992, he was the Head of Music Department at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Since coming to Singapore, he has held three solo concerts with critical acclaim from the local cultural circle. Well known music critic Yew Hong Jen commended him as having a "Diamond Voice" with very good skill in bel conto. Columnist Low Pooi Fong wrote in her column "Li's pure and beautiful voice rekindled our search for the long lost feeling towards truth, kindness and beauty". Cultural medallist Pan Shou composed a classical poem to express his appreciation of Li's beautiful voice. He praised Li's artistic talent as surpassing the highest level of art.

In 1994, Li Lie Gang was invited by the Taiwan Chorus Association to give two solo concerts in Taiwan and once again gained ravishing response. The president of the Taiwan Chorus Association Professor Zhang Qing Lang praised him as possessing the best vocal skill and having the clearest voice of all Chinese tenors. Li was invited in 1995 to perform at the Lincoln Centre of New York together with the most outstanding Chinese musicians from all over the world. His performance at the concert in commemorating the 50th anniversary of victory of the Second World War was critically acclaimed by the Chinese Newspaper in New York. In 1997, he was invited by the Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra to perform in four concerts as soloist tenor in Handel's "Messiah".

Other than his rich singing experience, Li Lie Gang is also highly commended for his teaching skills. He is often invited by schools and other cultural organisations to give lectures on vocal theory.

Besides his commitments to the singing and training of local talents, Li Lie Gang has also been very much dedicated to community and charity works. In 1992, he initiated and organised the First Children's Mandarin Song Singing Contest. In 1994, he founded the "Hua Xia Philharmonic Society" to promote the appreciation of classical music and music education for children. From September to December 1997, he was invited by the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) to give weekly presentations on Chinese music (focused especially on classical songs and folksongs).

Li Lie Gang is currently the President of Hua Xia Philharmonic Society and Artistic Director of Oriental Choir Association. He is also the conductor cum teacher of voices for several local chorus groups.

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Chinese Art Songs and Folksongs