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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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