Ge Gan-Ru

Ge Gan-ru, described in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians as 'China's first avant-garde composer', is regarded as one of the most original composers of his generation. His music is known for its immediately identifiable individualism and unique sound.By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ge was already known in China as the first composer to employ contemporary and avant-garde techniques, which were prohibited at the time. He was criticized for his individualism which was directly at odds with the prevailing ideology. His cello piece "Yi Feng", written in 1982, marked the first avant-garde composition in China's music history.In 1983, Ge became the first Chinese composer to be invited to study at Columbia University in New York where he obtained a doctoral degree in composition. He has since resided in the metro New York area.Ge has composed music for concerts as well as theater, dance and documentary and feature films. The New York Philharmonic, BBC Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Lyon National Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, Orchestra of Castilla y Leon, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Kronos Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, Miami Quartet and many other ensembles have commissioned and performed his works.